In a recent post, I told you all about Adoption.com’s 2007 Loved Photo Contest. If you are anything like me, you probably have a ton of photos!

What should you do with all of those photos? Well of course, there is scrapbooking but today I’d like to share a fun and new idea for a photo, a photo puzzle.

Photo puzzles are simple to make and are great for children. Birthmoms, next time you send your child something or next time you see him or her, give him/her a photo puzzle of a photo of the two of you together. Adoptive mothers, make a photo puzzle out of a special photo of your child and his/her birthmother for your child to have fun with. These are also great for birth siblings.

Instructions

1. Select a favorite photo. Use a copy of the photo, not the original.
2. Glue the photo on to a piece of light weight cardboard or cardstock to make it a little sturdier.
3. Laminate the photo to make it last longer. I use clear contact paper to laminate small projects like this but you can also have it laminated at a copy store.
4. Nowadays they do make puzzle templates that you can use in scrapbooking but who wants to trace a template when you can just have fun with your scissors? At this point, I grab my scissors and just begin cutting turning the paper and making interesting shapes.
5. Continue cutting the paper into interesting shapes that can be fit back together.
6. When you are through cutting, put your puzzle back together by matching up the shapes and see how you did.
7. Put all the pieces in a little baggie or envelope to keep them together and you’re done!

What a fun way to share a meaningful photograph with your child!

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Other crafts:
Journal in a Jar
Decoupage Picture Frames