Third Challenge of 2010 - Still A Good One!

A Puzzling Challenge

Written and Created by PaperCraftCentral Susan

The third challenge of 2010 was set a few years ago, but it's a puzzling one that is still relevant to today's papercraft world. Who doesn't remember making jigsaws with family and friends? Who doesn't still solve jigsaw puzzles? Who doesn't understand the symbolism of jigsaws in life?

"Isn't growing up a puzzle? Isn't somehow growing old with a mind that still feels young an even bigger one?"
~Susan

 It started out as a puzzling dare.

First, my friend Vanessa sent me a picture of this lovely layout using puzzle pieces so effectively. It immediately made me want to make a layout with puzzle pieces too. 

I then thought perhaps you would like to try making a page with puzzle pieces on it somewhere as a challenge.

Thank you for your amazing work, Vanessa. I am really pleased to have a piece of your lovely work to inspire people.

There's a place for you to show your challenge entry at the bottom of the page. Scroll down to see.

Ideas to Note the Puzzling Third Challenge of 2010

You may like a few hints and tips for using jigsaw pieces in a layout especially if you plan to punch your shapes from a photo itself.

Notice how Vanessa has used the puzzle pieces to give the photo an interesting tweak? I think this punching technique really conveys a mysterious mood and adds movement to her page.

If you plan to puzzle punch a photo, think about the main focus of the image. Try to contain the focal point in an un-punched part. You want the eye to see what your focus for the page is, not be distracted by cuts that may distort it, unless you are scrapping about a part of your life that really was fractured and confusing.

Vanessa has used more puzzle pieces to add interest to her page title. I really like the effect of this against the white space on the page. 

Even though the people in the photo are female, there is not a flower in sight on the page. The puzzle pieces are enough embellishment here, don't you think?

My eyes are really drawn to the figures in the photo because of the way Vanessa has used her puzzle pieces. My eye gets drawn towards the images because of the spiraling paths of the jigsaw pieces. 

By the way, you do not need a puzzle punch to make your layout, You can use a puzzle die, or you can draw a square and add drawings of puzzle pices, then trace your shapes onto the back of your photo or cardstock and hand cut them out. 

You can always draw your pieces freehand on the reverse side of your photo or cardstock before cutting them out, but a set of dies might make the cut outs more to your liking, unless you are good at fussy cutting. I am not so great at fussy cutting so I am going to get good use out of some dies I have!

Another good thing about dies is that you can cut out heavier materials more easily, such as craft weight cardstock, chipboard, light cork or even thin metal.

You might want to make a mixed media piece with this challenge, so would perhaps choose other materials than cardstock to make your puzzle pieces.

There are other advantages to drawing your own design, though. When you freehand it, you can decide how large or small to make your pieces. And you can take in certain parts of the photo by drawing a template around features you want to cut out.

Tip: Try making a puzzle template with vellum so you can see where the piece's lines will fall before you cut them out. 

TIP: Have a look and see if you like any of these printable jigsaw puzzle templates if you don't want to draw your own.

Instead of using puzzle pieces, you could draw a grid on the back of a photo or page element and cut it in squares. After thinking about it, I decided to do just that. I had this big photo of a bouquet I took a photo of around 2016. It would have looked good cut into puzzle pieces, but I thought the grid was pretty effective too.

• I cut the photo into 2" (2.5cm) squares and mounted it on Secret Sea cardstock.
• I tore strips of Strawberry Slush two tone cardstock to use as a background
• I looked for a quote about memory and forgetfulness, then told my own story on a tag that I mounted on Strawberry Slush cardstock
• I made some die cut flowers and leaves and used some gems to embellish the centres, then added a few more gems to the page. Done!

I hope you enjoy my little story.

Oh and by the way, you do not have to make a layout this time if you would rather make a card or a 3-d papercraft project or an ATC or two or three. As long as your project has a puzzle piece on it, you will have fulfilled the challenge.

So go ahead and start crafting with puzzle pieces!

NOTE: Even though the deadline is over now, I hope you are inspired to join in on the third challenge of 2010. Puzzles are always popular with me. It just might stretch and grow your crafting skills a little, if you have never thought about creatng with jigsaw pieces before.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you will make no matter when you take on this project idea.

Now you might like to check out some more challenges:

• Make a paper shirt
• Try stamping with bleach
• Consider creating something with a sketch
• Making card toppers for ready made embellishing