Q&A for How to Make a Puzzle

The easiest way to cut round edges is to use a very precise X-acto knife. In a pinch, any small, sharp blade will work, including paring knives or box cutters. You can also use the eraser of a small, round object, like a pencil or pen, to provide a guide.

Over time, your cutting knife will become dull, and will result in ragged edges on your puzzle pieces. Try changing your blade out for a new one every now and then. If you still get ragged edges, try sanding them lightly with some fine grit sandpaper.

Lacquer is a type of clear sealant. You don't have to use it. You can use any thing you want (as long as it's clear and good quality), like gloss or even clear nail polish.

You would get a round picture and carboard and cut the cardboard with a utility knife around the picture.

You could use a glue such as mod-podge, as it dries clear and is great for crafts.

If it's the type of cardboard that the postal service uses to ship packages in, then yes. After you set it with a gloss spray, and once it dries and the tackiness has subsided, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours. This will help seal it better.

Test the scissors on the backing (cardboard, for example) -- if you get a clean cut, great! If not, then it won't be able to cut a clean line with your image on it as well, and you should either find a thinner backing that is still sturdy or use a straight edge blade.

Most craft and office supply stores (Hobby Lobby, Office Max, even Walmart) carry puzzle adhesive and clear coat that is cheaper than lacquer. Lacquer would dissolve the fragile cardboard and cause far too much warping.

You can get wood cutting dies at any craft store. You can also buy them online.

A notebook cover is pretty flimsy and will make a flimsy puzzle. It can be done, but you may not be happy with the results.

There are websites that allow you to make a crossword puzzle easily. Just put in the words and clues and it gives you the crossword puzzle.

Yes, you can because it is still thick.

General-purpose, white glue should work fine for this. You could try hot glue or super glue, as well.

It's up to you! You could try making both of them to see which you prefer.

Yes, you can use whatever kind of photo you want.

You can either use the brush from the nail polish bottle, or you can pour the nail polish out onto a plate and use a separate tool to apply it, like a sponge.

Yes, if you don't mind severely dulling the scissors.

Cardboard will become very messy when you start cutting it, and will make your puzzle have very ragged edges. I guess you could sand it, but it's better to avoid cardboard altogether.

You can make any size of a puzzle piece, as long as you cut very precisely. It's best to go with lacquer because clear-drying glue will probably dry longer than lacquer.

Basically, puzzle backing is like a "hardcover" of a book. You can use cardboard but it has to be a thinner than regular thick cardboard, make sure it is durable though.

It depends on how you want to design it. As long as it fits into one whole puzzle piece, it is okay to have non-rounded puzzle shapes.

Yes, you can use glue such as Mod-Podge, as it is clear once dried. You can use anything good-quality and clear like gloss.

Yes, you can make smaller-sized puzzle pieces, you just have to make a smaller grid. Clear-drying glue (like Mod-Podge) will work instead of lacquer. You can use anything good-quality and clear like gloss.