Some puzzles are only made to complete once. After spending hours and hours on them, you may not have the energy to put them together again in the future. Or, they may be so gorgeous that you can't stand to see them packed away in a dark box for months or years. 

When you are looking to frame your puzzle, there are many alternatives for keeping it together. While some prefer to slide it directly into a frame, this usually isn't a great choice if your frame is bigger than the puzzle as it may slide and shift about, causing breaks. When this happens, it's best to grab some glue and stick all your pieces together. 

Just be sure that you NEVER intend to complete the puzzle again. Once the glue goes on, it's not coming off. 

If you're looking to glue your puzzle, some things you do to ensure it comes out perfect include: 

Only use puzzle glue 

While most PVA glue dries clear, it can also damage your puzzle by stripping away the picture and causing the puzzle pieces to turn soggy, especially if too much is used. Before you think about glueing your puzzle, it's best to head down to a craft store to pick up some puzzle-specific glue. 

This will not flake when dry and won't seep through the puzzle pieces. Just be sure to apply the glue with a paintbrush to confirm the coat is thin and won't clump when dried. 

Always protect your surfaces 

No matter how many times you have glued a puzzle in the past, things will always get messy. If you have a lower quality puzzle with loser pieces, you may notice your glue begins seeping through the cracks, even if you are only using a thin amount. 

I highly recommend using parchment paper or newspaper to protect your surfaces. That way, if it gets stuck to the back of your puzzle, your table or bench won't get damaged. You can also just cut around the paper that gets stuck, rather than causing destruction to the backing of the puzzle by trying to separate it from the table. 

Start from the centre of your puzzle 

Starting from the centre of your puzzle will allow you to calculate just how much glue you need. But, in the event that you do use too much, it can be easily scraped off the edge without causing damage. 

While using too much glue may not seem like a problem, doing so can cause deterioration and clumps to your puzzle, making it sit unevenly when mounted in a frame. 

At Play Timeout, I have a wide range of puzzle accessories that will help improve your puzzling experience. But, if puzzles aren't for you, I also have a great assortment of board games and party games for you to enjoy. You can check them out in my shop.