Save Space with Easy Puzzle Storage

Does your puzzle storage look like this: Boxes piled high and filling entire cupboards, or bags of mystery pieces lost from their puzzles? Recently, I shared a fun and easy puzzle busy bag idea. Guess what? That same concept works great for organizing puzzles and saving space.

I used to have a shelf full of puzzle boxes.  No more! Now the contents of that shelf fits into one small bin. Even better, the kids can easily grab the puzzle they want and put it away when they're done. If you're like me, when you see this puzzle storage idea, you're going to slap yourself on the forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of this years ago?"

Easy Puzzle Storage

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You only need a few materials, and you're ready to go:

• Sturdy slider baggies (they even have larger ones for larger puzzles). Don't get the cheap kind! These bags will be used over and over, so get something that will last.
• A sharpie or other type of marker
• Clear packing tape
• A storage bin
• Optional -- Access to a copy machine and paper

(You'll notice in the picture above that one of the puzzle images on the bag is of the puzzle put together, and one is of the puzzle without the puzzle lines. Depending on the age of your kids, choose which image you want to use--the one with "cheat" lines, or the one without.)

Now that you have your materials, let's get organized!

1. First, you need an image of the finished puzzle. You can get it by taking a photograph of the puzzle, by cutting the picture off of the outside of the box, or by photocopying the picture on the box. (I've used all three methods--depending on the condition of the puzzle and box.)
2. Once you have your picture, put it on the outside of a slider baggie and tape it down with clear packing tape. Completely cover the image so that it will stand up to wear and tear.
3. If your kids are anything like mine, more than one puzzle will get played with at a time. That's not such a big deal when the puzzles only have a few pieces, but when the kids get older and start more complicated puzzles, it gets to be a problem. So that lost puzzle pieces can be easily replaced in the correct bag, label the backs of each puzzle piece with a number, letter, or symbol that is specific to that puzzle. You can even put that symbol on the outside of the baggie. Next time you find a lone puzzle piece in the couch cushions, you'll know exactly where to put it.
4. Finally, put all of the pieces in correct bags, and toss the bags into your newly organized puzzle bin. Let the kids go to town!

Can you believe there are 21 puzzles in my storage bin? I've done the same thing with our grown up puzzles. No more puzzles taking up all of our storage space! I hope you'll try this easy organization idea. Trust me. You and your kids are going to love it!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great week.

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