How to Glue and Hang a Jigsaw Puzzle

I've been on a mission to decorate. I have so much stuff just laying around this place, it's time to get it pretty! Being the organized, excellent planner I am (sarcasm!) I knew the solution was obviously to buy a bunch more stuff.

I think I just can't pass up a good sale, because I see something random and it's all:
Oh man, a puzzle! I probably love puzzles, I think. Dude it's on sale for $3! I need a puzzle, right? We definitely need a puzzle, a puzzle would be fun, we would totally use and love a puzzle even though we don't have anywhere to do one and no spare time, but hey did I mention it's $3?
Anyways that's how we ended up with a puzzle that barely fit on our coffee table, with my poor roommates getting pressured into working on my super-fun and totally awesome puzzle idea that took over our living room.

Eventually, after many days, the puzzle was complete! I really liked the picture and that's when I was inspired to make it into a piece for the collage wall I was planning. After watching a bunch of youtube videos and reading a bunch of wiki-how articles warning me that glueing a puzzle was a tricky task, I of course decided to jump right in a DIY that sucker.

It ended up being pretty easy! I enlisted my roommate Ashley's help in flipping the puzzle (using newspaper) onto some waxed paper on our table. I grabbed some puzzle glue and a spongey-paintbrush thing and got to work!

This is what I used, and it worked perfectly. I hear mode-podge and an old credit card works too, but I had a great success with Sunsout Puzzle Preserver Glue

for this project.

I did use liquid cement

to glue the puzzle to a piece of foam board

, set some books on it, and let it dry overnight.

Lastly I superglued some hanging brackets onto the back of the foam board. I was a little worried it wouldn't hold, but after letting it dry for a few hours it was very strong. The glued and backed puzzle is relatively light, and we were able to hang it with ease.

I really love how the puzzle looks as the centerpiece for our collage wall! The inspiration for this wall came from my awesome friend Corey over at Domestic 360. I love her use of different textures and colors!

I'm finally starting to feel like the apartment is coming together! And only after living here for seven months. I'm a proud little homemaker. Apartmentmaker. Whatever ;)