Community Puzzles: Instructions and Layout Ideas

 

Single Puzzle Setup                                                              Multiple Puzzle Setup                                                 Community Puzzle Ideas

 

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HYGLOSS® Community Puzzle Worksheet & Instruction Guide

Puzzle piece (Fig. 1) is labeled with top, bottom, right and left. We suggest noting the orientation of each piece before designing to make sure that your artwork is displayed right-side up instead up upside-down. Use the white side of the puzzle piece for the artwork. Encourage each artist to use the entire surface of their puzzle piece, including the “nibs” (the tabs that stick out the sides of each piece) This will help each piece flow into the next when the Community Puzzle is assembled.

Single Puzzle Setup Information

Full Set Planning Diagram

(*Fig. 2) is a full layout of one completed puzzle set. This layout shows one possible configuration for 1 set of 30 center pieces and 26 border pieces (for a total of 56 pieces). *Fig. 2 is a 1 set puzzle (30 center pieces), and the puzzle can of course be turned either way. For decorating, one suggestion is to make all of the border pieces one color, but if artwork is included on them, please plan for the correct orientation to avoid design hiccups! This includes mapping out how many of each style of border pieces are needed for the planned layout.  Just trace around each style to create practice pages. Be sure to label the “top”. Note that while all 4 corner pieces are alike, each corner needs to be oriented a certain way to fit properly, and that the other has a socket on one long side.

One 56 piece puzzle set has 30 large center pieces, 4 corner pieces, 11 border pieces with a nib or tab on one long side, and 11 border pieces with a hole or socket on one long side.  Refer to the diagram to see what each style of piece looks like and where it goes prior to designing. 

Preserving Your Completed Puzzle

Once completed, why not permanently display the Community Puzzle? To hold the pieces together, turn the completed puzzle upside down, and coat the back with a quality white glue. Don’t use too much, and try to keep the glue from leaking through the cracks to the face of the puzzle. While the glue is still wet, apply layers of newspaper, craft paper, or poster board, and let dry. Trim excess paper from edges as needed. Especially with larger puzzles, a piece of plywood for mounting may be necessary. To preserve the face, apply a UV spray protective coating available from an Art Supply Store. This will protect the surface, and cut down on fading. Follow the directions on the can. Commercial puzzle coating materials sold for regular jigsaw puzzles may also be used. Be sure to test whatever materials used on the test puzzle piece mentioned above to make sure there is not an adverse reaction between the coating and the markers, crayons, or other materials used. 

Additional Layouts and Configurations

The Hygloss Community Puzzle can be laid out in more ways than one! Create an original layout, or follow the guides below for a more unique design. The possibilities are endless, simply omit the border pieces to create custom configurations and shapes. Each puzzle kit comes with a set number of pieces, but that does not mean that different puzzle configurations cannot be used to fit the needs of the project. 

 

1 Set - 56 Piece Puzzle (30 Center Pieces)

Below are some suggested layouts when using #97401, the 30 Guest Puzzle

 

5x6 – 30 Center Pieces, 22 Border Pieces, 4 Corner Pieces

4x6 – 24 Center Pieces, 20 Border Pieces, 4 Corner Pieces

5x5 – 25 Center Pieces, 20 Border Pieces, 4 Corner Pieces

3x8 – 24 Center Pieces, 22 Border Pieces, 4 Corner Pieces 

 

Multiple Puzzle Setup Information

10 Sets and Beyond (600+ Center Pieces)

When purchasing multiple sets of the Community Puzzle, the combinations and configurations are endless on what kind of puzzle(s) you would like to build. Create 10 individual 1 set puzzles or combine multiple sets into one large puzzle, either in a large square, or a creative shape! The possibilities are endless. For single set assembly, please refer to the 1 Set setups outlined prior in this pamphlet. 

If Combining Multiple Sets into one Large Puzzle

For larger projects using multiple sets, just keep adding pieces to reach the desired size and add the needed amount of border pieces. If using more than one set, simply save or recycle the leftover pieces. You will want to construct this puzzle on a mountable surface if you are preserving or displaying it, to avoid having to re-assemble later if you plan to mount or seal it. 

Artistic & Unique Ways to Combine Multiple Sets

If you are using multiple sets for one project, you will have a lot of border and corner pieces at your disposal to create a puzzle that is truly designed outside of the box. Use the imagination to map out block patterns or customize further with zigzags or irregular patterns. Sometimes you may need to alter or leave out a border piece to fit such artistic configurations. 

Heart Shaped Borderless Puzzle

Below are some suggestions for a heart-shaped puzzle of three various sizes.

Small Heart – 24 Pieces total 

Medium Heart – 49 Pieces

Large Heart – 188 Pieces

Fish Shaped Borderless Puzzle

Below are some suggestions for a fish-shaped puzzle of three various sizes.

Small Fish – 24 Pieces 

Medium Fish – 39 Pieces 

Large Fish – 193 Pieces

Ideas for How to Use the Community Puzzle

Theme ideas for the Community Puzzle 

• Character Building – illustrate a positive trait or person you admire

• Nature – illustrate a plant or animal in a  particular habitat

• Multi-Cultural – illustrate something about where you or your family are from

• Social Studies – illustrate a country – products, famous leader, or other

• Reading – illustrate a book you have read – visual measure of progress as puzzle grows or everyone illustrate a common book, story, or poem.

• Social Responsibility – recycling, environment, how to treat others, ethnic groups, etc.

• Summer Camp – illustrate something learned about the place you visited

• Gift for Special Visitor – illustrate something you liked about their presentation

• Birthday Parties, Reunions, Retirements, Holidays, & Staff Development  

• Bridal & Baby Showers, Senior Citizens. 

 

The Fund Raising Community Puzzle 

Sell each piece for $5.00 – (or any other set price) – low price point lets larger segment of the community contribute – everyone decorates according to the theme and adds to the Community Puzzle – an automatic visual measure of progress of fund raising as the Community Puzzle grows.