Packaging Finished Puzzles

[Scrolling Days]

Hi, Guys. I gave my niece her "Moons and Stars" puzzle and she was very delighted. She is eleven years old and recently helped her sister put together another puzzle of mine, and I think she was hoping to get one herself. :-) She is into Harry Potter and likes Dumbledore, so I think she will have phun discovering a wizard in the puzzle (I like to keep a commonly used puzzling tradition of where the puzzle assembler is not privy to a picture of the final puzzle until completed).

Anyhow, I took a few shots of the boxed puzzle this morning before I brought it to her house, and I thought that I would share how I like to present the puzzles I cut.

I feel that when gifting a puzzle, the box should give the wooden puzzle the presentation it deserves. I've experimented with making various types, and seem to have settled on this. As times change, I may change things again, but this looks nice, I think.

I make my own boxes and cover them (inside and out) with colored, textured cardstock paper. The color changes from puzzle to puzzle, and the box sizes vary as well. I glue a label to the front and cut my logo from ply (this was poplar) and glue it to the top.



My "company" name, the "Ferguson Puzzle Company" is more for phun, at least for now, because I don't sell the puzzles I make. My wife and kids are part of the "company"...they are my Quality Control/Assembly Team Some time down the road, if I decide to commission myself, then I'll pursue liscensing agreements, etc. But for now...just for phun. I'm working on a website, but that's going kind of slow currently...only so much time.

I cut a differently shaped puzzle piece out of the background moon on each puzzle/label I make.



The inside I line with nice fabric which also varies (in terms of pattern) from puzzle to puzzle. I chose stars here, because of the puzzle's subject matter and title.

[Scrolling Days]

Finally, I have a little trifold and an informational card I give with each puzzle. The trifold has information about puzzle making in general, and the info card has specific information about that specific puzzle (number of pieces, title and artist of original artwork, date completed, etc). On the info card's back, I write up a short description of the puzzle (the only clue the puzzle assembler gets ) and I discuss a few personal notes about why I might have cut it a certain way.

[scrollpup]

Oh my gosh Shawn, I could have saved you ALL that trouble on the "Moons and Stars"!!

You could have dropped it in an envelope and mailed it to me!!

Thats way too Kool!!!!

Jerry C

[CallMeTut]

Let me say first off.. too cool.
I've never done a puzzle yet... thinking about one though (be good training on using a str8 blade... I'm a darksider).
Question though, does the person getting the puzzle you've cut get a picture of what the finished picture should look like or are they in the blind trying to piece it together?

Also what type blade do you prefer?

[Scrolling Days]

Thanks, guys. Tutor, I'm using 2-0 blades. I ordered some of the spirals you prefer but haven't tried them yet. I figure they might be handy if I do a very large puzzle which passes my saw's throat depth. But otherwise, I would stay clear of them because (I am told) they leave a wider kerf.

I don't provide a picture. Yesterday I offered to show my niece's Mom (oops....Mum, sorry John B ) a picture and she refused. She had helped her other daughter make one last month and really enjoyed putting it together without a picture. It helps to make it a surprise.

I know some puzzle makers include a small picture in case the assembler really wants a clue, and that's fine too. There is actually a lot of fun, I think, in trying to hunt down where a puzzle piece should fit in regard to examining the picture. Currently, however, I just prefer to leave it out and be mean.

[KtownScroller]

Great idea Shawn! I like your packaging... looks real good.

[sawdustus]

I love your packaging Shawn. I just put mine in little wooded boxes I make and paste a picture of the puzzle on the top or side. Yours is so much nicer I am going to have to change may approach. Thanks for sharing.

george

[Sally]

What a wonderful gift. I'm getting my thinking cap on. I'll start small first then. . . we'll see. Thanks, Sally

[lucky788scroller]

wow, what a great presentation.The next step would be constructing your own plywood boxes! great job.

[blondewood]

Hi Shawn,
That is one impressive presentation package you make. A whole project in itself. I was trying to find pics of your work on this site, but didn't have any luck. If you've posted them can you tell me the link?
Thanks and once again: excellent work.
Vicki