Preserve My Puzzle Experience

For puzzle enthusiasts like me, there’s something uniquely satisfying about completing a challenging puzzle. The pieces click into place, the image takes shape, and the sense of accomplishment is unmatched. But once the puzzle is finished, the usual next step is to break it apart and tuck it away until the next time. I’ve never been one to glue or keep my puzzles together—after all, part of the fun is in the process of doing them over and over again.

However, there’s a special appeal in preserving a puzzle or two for home décor purposes. After all, a beautifully framed puzzle can add personality and character to any room. I’ve tried a couple of DIY gluing methods in the past, and while they worked okay, I always felt like something was missing. If I’m going to keep a puzzle together forever, I want it to look pristine, professional, and ready to hang on the wall.

That’s when I discovered Preserve My Puzzle, a service that takes your completed puzzles and transforms them into beautiful, professionally framed artwork. I was offered the opportunity to experience this process firsthand, and I thought I’d share the journey with you. From the moment I sent in my puzzle to seeing the final product, the experience was truly something worth talking about. Here’s a closer look at what the process was like and how it made my puzzle feel like a true piece of art.

The Laminate Option: A Seamless, Polished Finish

Preserve My Puzzle offers two options for framing your completed puzzles, and I had the chance to try both. I’m excited to share my honest experience with you.

Here’s what’s included with the laminate service:

• A full puzzle shipping kit, complete with glue sheets and a secure shipping box to ensure your puzzle arrives safely.
• Professional lamination and mounting onto a durable MDF panel, providing both stability and long-lasting protection.
• Beveled edges that give the puzzle a sleek, polished look, enhancing its visual appeal.
• A custom edge color for the puzzle. They offer 24 different colors to choose from, but I decided to leave it up to them by selecting the option with the question mark, letting them choose the best match for my puzzle.

For this experience, I chose a puzzle from Goodway called Miss Sunshine, created by the talented artist Dawn Allen. The artwork is simply stunning—featuring a mermaid that beautifully captures the artist’s brushstrokes and vibrant colors. When I first completed this puzzle, I knew it was something I wanted to keep together because it already felt like a work of art. The vibrant colors and intricate details made it a perfect candidate for preserving.

The Steps of the Journey: How I Prepared My Puzzle for Framing

The process of preserving my puzzle with Preserve My Puzzle was surprisingly easy and straightforward. Here’s a breakdown of the steps I took from placing the order to shipping the puzzle off for framing.

1. Placing the Order

The first step was to choose the size of the frame I wanted. Preserve My Puzzle offers a variety of standard sizes, ranging up to 24x36 inches. They also offer custom sizing if needed. I chose a standard size, and the ordering process was quick and user-friendly. Within just 4-5 days, I received the puzzle shipping kit in the mail.

2. Unboxing the Shipping Kit

Inside the shipping kit, I found everything I needed to get my puzzle ready for framing:

• A cardboard tri-fold (think of the ones you used in middle school science projects) to secure the puzzle during transit.
• A step-by-step guide outlining the entire process.
• Glue sheets for keeping the puzzle together. 
• A shipping package with a prepaid return shipping label for sending the puzzle back to them.

3. Getting the Puzzle Ready for Shipping

The first thing I did was complete my puzzle (of course!). Once it was finished, I flipped it over. Since the fit of this particular puzzle was tight, it was easy to flip it over without any issues. However, if you’re working with a larger or more delicate puzzle, I’d recommend doing your puzzle on a foam board or a table with no lip so it’s easier to transfer it onto the backing board when the time comes.

Next, I used the glue sheets on the back of my puzzle. This step was super easy—it only took a couple minutes. Preserve My Puzzle also gave the option to use puzzle glue on the front of the puzzle if you prefer, but since I’m not a big fan of gluing my puzzles, I stuck with the glue sheets.

4. Securing the Puzzle

Once the glue sheets were in place, I took the cardboard tri-fold and removed the double-sided sticky tape to secure the puzzle. The tri-fold helps hold everything in place, ensuring that the puzzle doesn’t shift during shipping. Once everything was taped and secured, I closed the tri-fold, placed it into the shipping bag, and sealed it up for return shipping.

5. Waiting for the Final Result

After sending the puzzle off, it was a bit of a waiting game. I eagerly awaited the finished product, knowing that the final result would be worth the wait.

The whole process was easier than I expected, and it felt good knowing my puzzle was in safe hands. Now, it was just a matter of waiting to see the transformation!

Frame Your Puzzle: 

In addition to the laminate option, I also had the opportunity to try Preserve My Puzzle’s Frame Your Puzzle option, and I was equally impressed by the process and outcome. With five frame colors to choose from, you can select a frame that complements your puzzle and fits your home décor perfectly. The available size options were the same as the laminate option, but there’s also the added benefit of custom sizing. This is great news for those with larger puzzles or even irregularly shaped ones. In fact, I’ve been tempted to preserve a circle puzzle that’s currently just hanging on my wall with command strips—now that I know they can accommodate such shapes, I’m even more excited to try it!

Just like with the laminate process, the steps were simple and straightforward. This time, I chose the black frame color, as I thought it would really enhance the puzzle I had in mind. For this framing experience, I selected a new puzzle by Pomegranate called The Sunday Paper.

This particular puzzle was a bit different from the ones I usually go for. It’s a fine arts style puzzle, featuring a scene inspired by Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, with the famous painting acting as a "window view" in the puzzle. What I loved about this puzzle was that it almost felt like a puzzle within a puzzle—such an interesting and enjoyable challenge! I’m not usually drawn to fine arts puzzles, but this one caught my attention. It made the process of putting it together a lot more manageable, and the final image is simply stunning.

Once again, the process for shipping was seamless and easy. I shipped the completed puzzles off, and I eagerly awaited the final product.

The shipping process took about a week each way, but keep in mind I’m all the way on the opposite side of the country from Preserve My Puzzle. If you're located on the East Coast, you'll likely receive your items much faster. Even with the distance, the turnaround time was pretty reasonable, and I was kept in the loop via email throughout the entire process. They only had my puzzles for a couple of days before sending them back to me, which is impressive!

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My laminated puzzle was the first to arrive, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. The packaging was top-notch—lots of foam and cardboard to ensure it stayed secure during transit. The laminate itself looks fantastic! The puzzle pieces blend together seamlessly, and there’s a small hole in the back for easy mounting. I also loved the wood grain they selected for the finish. I was unsure about which color to pick, but the one they chose really made the colors of my Miss Sunshine puzzle pop. It now proudly hangs in our kitchen, adding a cheerful touch to the space.

The framed puzzle arrived just a day later, also in perfect condition. The black frame was a perfect choice for the puzzle I had in mind, and it looks amazing on my wall. The frame came with hardware on the back, making it super easy to hang. It’s already brightening up the room and giving the space a more vibrant feel.

Overall, my experience with Preserve My Puzzle has been a delightful one. The results exceeded my expectations, and I’m especially excited about their ability to frame shaped puzzles. I have a circle puzzle that I’ve been displaying with command strips, and while it’s holding up for now, I’m just waiting for the day it falls off the wall. Plus, it’s just never looked as finished as it should. I’ll definitely be coming back for that one!

Although I received this service for free in exchange for a review, I can honestly say that I would consider usingPreserve My Puzzle again for special puzzles that I want to display in my home. It’s a great way to preserve and showcase your favorite puzzles in a beautiful, lasting way.

Emilee @thecasuapuzzler