You need:
- Cardboard
- Ruler
- Paper
- Wood glue
- Paint brush
- Scissor
- Computer
- Facility for printing
Consider how big your puzzle will be and cut it accordingly. I wanna build a little puzzle — my piece of cardboard has a width of 15,5 cm and a lengh of 19,5 cm. Tip: Instead of cardboard from a hobby shop, you also can use the package of cereal or a package and unfold and cut it — if it fits for the desired size.
Choose any motif you want to put together later; and which is big as possible. I choose a Lara wallpaper with 1.280 × 1.024 pixel that was made by Piper for the TRForge advent calendar 2009. You'll find this and other fancy wallpapers in full resolution, made by Piper, here.
Open the motif in a graphic software on your computer. For that I use Gimp (it's free), that you can download here. In the following text I'll explain the exact procedure just for Gimp. If you already use another program, you'll know how to do it there anyway. First we'll check the proportions — the motif has to fit exactly on the cardboard, without that it will be uncompressed or crushed. Divide the width by the lengh of the cardboard and round the result down to 6 digits after the decimal point, if needed. In my case: 15,5 cm ÷ 19,5 cm = 0,794872. In Gimp, chose the square Select tool (1), set it on fixed proportions and type the aspect ratio like this (2):
1:x (lengthwise)
x:1 (edgewise)
...x stands for the pre-calculated value.
I decide on the lenghtwise-model and type “0,794872:1” accordingly. Move the mouse along the motif with hold left mouse button to select the image section (3) and cut it. In Gimp: “Image” in the menu bar, “Crop to selection” (4). Scale the pic down to the cardboard size. In Gimp: “Image” in the menu bar, “Scale image”. Best is to adjust your software to cm or mm (5), then you don't need to convert. Enter only width and lengh in each case and let the software calculate it for you — joined chain link in Gimp (6) — then you'll see if the calculated ratio is correct. If everything is alright, print the picture. Now we'll go on without computer.
Cut out your motif, check if it really fits on the cardboard — and if yes — glue it on it. Spread the glue lightly and equably on the whole cardboard.
In my view default wood glue is most suitable here (you can mix it with a little bit water, for better spreading). Now you have to let the cardboard with the picture dry. Best is to lay it (motif side down) on several pieces of blotting paper (default paper is also okay) and weigh it down — you don't have to use the 10 liter bucket of wall paint, a few books are sufficing.
If the cardboard has dried (my suggestion: 10 hours), we can go on with cutting — I'll leave it to you how the pieces will be shaped, the main thing is it's not too measured — we don't wanna keep it too easy for the person who'll play with it. ;-)
If you have destroyed the beautiful motif on the cardboard (don't worry, we will put it together again), spread the motif sides of every piece with a film of wood glue.
This will protect them in subsequent use against destruction by water, finger prints and other mishaps and abominations (your wood glue must be transparent after dry → read the packaging). When you spread the glue, be careful that you don't put too much pressure on it or brush on it forever: too much leisure may be overkill, especially if you've printed out the motif with a inkjet printer — the colors will become blurred and probably hardly visible if the worst comes to the worst. Busy Lizzies also seals the bottom sides of the pieces, after the glue has dried on the upper side.
My finished and put-together “creation” looks like this:
Hm, maybe it passes for modern art. The destruction of Lara Croft...
If you want to publish this text or parts of it elsewhere, please ask gabiza7 for permission previously!
As every year there is also the TRForge advent calendar contest. Achieve the matching challenge to every calendar door and collect points, to get the chance to win a great prize in the end! You can find more infos here: contest, or you can click on Lara at the calendar page.