Jigsaw Puzzle Christmas Ornaments

We all have at least one: a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece. No one knows where the piece went but the remaining pieces dont have to be useless. Break them out and turn them into unique Christmas ornaments! No matter what image was on the original puzzle the pieces will work to make new ornaments.

Make a snowflake ornament by first painting some puzzle pieces white. Youll have a hard time painting over the original design; apply the white paint to the backside of the pieces. Jigsaw puzzles usually have a shiny glaze over the front of the pieces that can be difficult to paint. It might take more than one coat to cover the backside of the puzzle pieces. Take three popsicle sticks and arrange them in the shape of an asterisk. Use hot glue - or another adhesive - to attach jigsaw puzzle pieces to the sticks. Start at the end of each stick and work towards the center. Fold a string in half and glue the ends to one stick. Glue the first puzzle piece over the string. When the stems of the snowflake are finished glue two or three more pieces - whatever is needed - to cover the center area of the snowflake.

Make a jigsaw puzzle piece Christmas tree by first painting the backs of the pieces green. Cut a simple tree shape from a piece of cardstock and begin gluing the puzzle pieces onto it. First, cut a string, fold it in half, then glue the ends to the top of the tree. Glue the first puzzle piece over the top of the string. Position the pieces so you cant see the cardstock from the front of the finished tree. After covering the cardstock tree completely, add more pieces here and there, to create a more dimensional look. Glue on tiny beads, a small star tree topper, or similar miniatures. Hang the finished tree on your real Christmas tree. Cut a circle out of cardboard then cut the middle out of the circle to make a puzzle wreath. Cut a string, fold it in half, and glue the ends to the outer edge of the circle. Glue the first puzzle piece over the ends of the string then begin arranging the pieces on the cardboard. Instead of creating neat rows all the way around the wreath glue the pieces on more randomly. But, make sure all the pieces are placed so that the protruding interlocking pieces are vertical. Cut a candy cane shape, a simple bell shape or other Christmas shapes to make even more jigsaw puzzle ornaments. Paint the pieces with colors normally associated with that shape. The ornaments are very unusual yet really easy for kids - or anyone - to make!