MUST HAVES for puzzle lovers | EVERY PUZZLER should have these!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Hope you enjoy this video! And also what are your MUST HAVES when puzzling? 👀🧩

[@lejardindhiverjeux]

If you find yourself thinking of getting sortable trays and you think you’ll regularly have the pieces not all face up, another option is using small sandwich bags… so you can just dump out the pieces from the bag when you’re ready to work on that section.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

That makes sense! I normally try to keep the pieces up, but if there's a huge pile, then it usually gets mixed up. Thank you for that idea! 🤩👌🏻

[@emcarver8983]

That's what I do. Plastic bags 😁

[@lejardindhiverjeux]

@@emcarver8983 ☺️😁

[@50sRockChick]

I agree about the sorting trays. They are brilliant.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I know!!! I use them a lot! 🤩

[@initiate22000]

I also got a stiff neck from keeping my head down while doing puzzles. Then I got a wonderful puzzle board from Bits and Pieces that puts the puzzle at an angle so I can now keep my head up. It is so much better!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I have to check this out then! I sounds amazing! 🤩 Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@Lyntintin1]

I agree, foam boards are a game changer! I can move them from room to room and will sometimes stack them on top of a bookshelf to keep away from the cats. I have two trays I got from a charity shop that I use for sorting pieces, abgt the size of those foam boards, but with edges so they dont slide off. I would forever be losing pieces otherwise!! And I also have old plastic bowls with sections that I use when I sort the edges and also the corners. Love your tips! And hope your neck feels better soon.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I absolutely love the foam boards! Oh the edges must be a dream come true 🤩 The bowls are great! I have never thought of that I just normally used the other puzzle boxes 😅 And my neck is a lot better thank you! 🥰

[@tvmom]

I just finally bought some stacking trays. I agree. Changed my life.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I know right! 🤩

[@juststartingover2735]

I like the foam board idea..pieces move around easy etc

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Yes, they do! You need to be careful not to knock them over though 😅

[@claudiakirschner8257]

I did the left and the right puzzle behind you as a teenager and still have them. Recently put them glued in a puzzle map 😅❤

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Nice! I did them when I was in primary school 🤩 That's so nice, that you've kept your puzzles! 😁

[@rossiej100]

I use a IKEA desk mat on my table, holds 1000 piece landscape puzzle nicely. The pieces slide into place nicely but there is enough grip to ensure no major shift whilst putting a puzzle together.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Good thinking! I never thought of that, but you made me wanna try it out! 🤩🤗

[@Maggie-tr2kd]

My mother and I used our shallow shoe box tops as sorting trays for puzzle pieces for many, many years. I now use White Mountain puzzle sorter which gives you 6 sturdy cardboard trays for sorting that stack up and also nest inside of each other. Nested together for storage when not puzzling it only takes up the size of one puzzle box. I have a table devoted to puzzling but I need a cover to put over the puzzle to protect against dust and kitty mischief.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I used the bottoms of the other boxes, but it was so inconvenient. I'm so glad that they made the puzzle sorters! 😅 I have never seen the White Mountain sorter, but it sounds great! I love the fact, that is nests into each other, and it makes it smaller for storage! 🤩 Gotta love a devoted puzzling table!! But yes, better to have it protected, especially around kitties 😅😻

[@sharonj.1240]

I have the trays, but prefer to do an initial shape sort onto the backs of foam type placemats. I had a lot of them not being used so.... They are larger and light weight so you can hold them if you stand. Also, the surface keeps pieces from moving. I'm a maniac about every facing the same way, so the placemat surface helps hold the pieces in place. The trays are great, but even the largest ones don't allow me to have pieces spaced out.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Oh, that's a good info! I use the other foam boards with slippery surface, and they do tend to slide off, if I'm moving to quickly. I will have to look into that! 😊 And yes, I completely agree with you about the trays! I tend to use them just when I do the initial sorting, and as soon as I start working on a specific section, I take all the pieces out and spread them nicely. I have to have them all facing the same way too! 😅

[@jeannemckee2009]

One of my favorite things I use is my puzzle board, it is a like a lazy susan, it spins! So I don't have to get up I can just spin them to me. It is a 3ft x 3ft. The next thing is a pancake turner. I can pick up large sections with it and move them without them falling apart. I recently got my first 3000 peice puzzle, the finished size would not fit on my board, so I went to my local Lowes store and got a peice of of luan good one side and had them cut it into. I put the 4 x 4 on top of my spin board and now have a very large board to put the frame and lots of pieces. I have a dedicated place in my home for this large spinning board. I hope this might help people to think out of the box. I just subscribed to your channel.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I never thought of lazy Susan, that's brilliant! 😁👌🏻 I love your ideas honestly! Will have to try them out 🤩 And thank you for subscribing! 🥰

[@malelonewolf80]

As for easier, a lamp with magnifying glas, or a magnifying glas with lights can help on some puzzles. And a really good office chair is a must for my back for doing puzzles on my puzzle table (tables that are foldable/collapsable if the room needs to be used for something else). I also use a foam board to do the bigger puzzles on, and have smaller painter canvases for the sorted puzzle pieces, or doing smaller puzzles on.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Oh nice! I had some recommendations reg the magnifying glass when I was doing the World's Smallest so it seems like it's being used by quite a lot of puzzlers 😁 Good office chair would be nice yes! 😅 I have noticed that everyone has it's own variation of what works for them and I love it! 🤩

[@kathylynn1375]

Like I stated I use a chalk /bulletin board with edges... it also allows me to take the puzzle from room to room thru doors as I can tip it far enough to get threw the door with out the pieces falling off.... I like that I can like you put it on a bed and put pillows under it to tilt it while I sit in a chair by the bed by a window with natural light.... it is 24x36 and is big enough for most puzzles while using trays to hold pieces I do not do the 1500 or above so it works great for me..... I enjoy your channel .. I enjoy your reviews, your tips.... who knew puzzles could be so much fun.... all winter I usually have one going.... Happy Puzzzling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I actually might have to try this out as I do puzzles on my bed all the time haha 😂😅 I do have a puzzle board which has a non slippery surface, so I can tilt it a little bit, but probably not as much as with the chalk board. I normally stick to the 1000 pcs puzzles so that would be ideal for me 🤗 Thank you!! 🥰

[@sightlines9293]

My family have just started puzzling to pass the time during the winter. The sorting trays and foam boards are a great idea. I'm wondering if cutting a few 1cm strips of foam board and gluing them to the edges may stop the pieces from sliding off.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

This might be the best idea I have heard! 🤩 Sometimes if I move the board too quickly, they just go flying off, and this would be a life saver! I know some people suggested to put felt on top, but I don't like when I can't slide the pieces, so the edge seems like a better option for me! 😁👌🏻

[@emcarver8983]

I have the puzzle caddy. And it has a handle!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I have a handle too! 🤩

[@candidulce0714]

I am a new puzzler and after watching your videos I realized I am going to need more stuff 😅 I have foam boards but I don't have small ones, I did get one of those puzzle mats you can roll up but I'll only use those on occasion, and my husband 3D printed me trays for sorting and to contain the pieces. It's so fun but definitely not a space aware hobby 😂

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Hahaha love this! 😂👌🏻 And yes, the small foam boards are life savers for me - so easy to arrange the pieces on it, and to move it around to get it closer to where you need. I'm sure that the trays are just amazing! I love sorting trays 🤩 And yes, I totally agree, up to 1500 pieces is fine (if it fits in the puzzle board), but after that it can become a bit difficult 😅

[@emcarver8983]

For a puzzle larger that 1500, you can split it in two, and put a layer of felt, board, on the puzzle on the board and slide the separated half on top of that

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

That's brilliant! Thank you! 🤩👌🏻

[@kathylynn1375]

I use a chalk board with edges. That I painted white. Slide under the bed when not in use. Pieces do not do is off I can tilt it and turn around to reach easier. Also. I use cookie sheets. With edges. To sort.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Interesting, I never thought of that! Thanks 😊

[@NinaW1n]

I use the foam boards too but I put them on top of my puzzle when I see my cat is going to jump on the table and swipe all the pieces away with her tail 😆, I have to be pretty quick!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Hahaha oh yeah, I hear so many stories with cats and puzzles, that I'm quite glad I don't have this problem! 😂😂 I bet you are very quick! 😂👌🏻 I remember back, when I used to puzzle on the floor, and my dog would come running to me... well, let's just say that I had to redo some of the puzzles 😅🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Laura_Stanford]

Nice video Janette. I have 10"x10" white puzzle trays and I know what you mean when you say, they are amazing. They hold lots of pieces. It is a set of 8 trays with tray on top. It is good enough for me to build a 2000 pieces puzzle. I got a purple plastic box holder, love it soooo much. And also the puzzle piece scooper.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Thank you! 🤗 Yes, I much prefer normal shaped puzzle trays, as opposed to puzzle shaped ones - you can just fit so much more in them! 🤩👌🏻 I need a box holder as well, and a puzzle piece scooper?? I have never seen that, but I feel like I need it now! 😅🙈

[@Fiobo823]

I have the all white set of these, and they are great. I especially love the lid, to keep the dust off!!! Also, I was in a homebase (UK DIY store) and I found some white trays, that are actually lids for boxes. I bought 3, and then found a larger one so bought that as well. These are perfect when I want something bigger. I tend to use the white set with the lid for very specific small sections I'm sorting, and the bigger ones for the rest of the pieces. I have one foam board so far, I bought the A1 size and it's great. I want to buy more, but they haven't been in stock recently. I also have two tektalk boards. These are from amazon, not cheap at around £30 each. However, they are fantastic. And they come with a cover!!! I have a cat, who often likes to lie on my puzzles :) This is OK when I'm around, but when I'm not I can cover the board and protect my puzzle from him :) I can only do puzzles on my bed right now, so these boards have been perfect to keep my puzzles safe. I do have one puzzle board case, but it's so heavy and bulky that I rarely use it these days.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I am jealous 😅🙈 and yes lids are the best! I just checked these Tektalk boards and they look absolutely amazing! 🤩 now I want one as well haha but I don't think I need it to be honest 😂 So you're a bed puzzler as well - welcome to the club 😂😜

[@nikiiijello1217]

Your puzzle caddy is awesome! 😁

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Thank you! 😁

[@frankietillery7911]

What is the best way to sort the pieces. I use to puzzle many years ago but just started back. I keep seeing where puzzlers are sorting their pieces. I just bought a set of sorting trays.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

It depends on the puzzle - if it has clear colour blocks/sections, I'd normally sort them by colours, but sometimes, when a puzzle is very busy, and it has the same colour all over the puzzle (like Sherlock Holmes I just did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH6VYayiabaWq7M), then I prefer not to sort it (just flip the pieces) and then eliminate the pieces with the same detail. But if it's a larger busy puzzle (2k+) and you'd have to sort it, then I'd focus on details - like texture, dots, brush strokes - anything that'll help you know what goes together. Hope this helps! 😁

[@happyhippiehomeschool]

I wonder if you could really lightly sand the foam board to take the gloss off and prevent some of the sliding.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I never thought of that but might as well try it on one of the smaller ones. Thank you! 😁👌🏻

[@kathleenemenecker7260]

It’s always great watching and listening to you…. What puzzle 🧩 are you getting ready to do???? What size are larger foam boards. Thanks. Till next time Kathy Happy Halloween

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Thank you! 😍 The first one is gonna be the 3k one from Ravensburger once I move to my own place and then I'm planning to gradually do larger puzzles up to 10k and then at some point I wanna do the largest puzzles as well 🤩 The largest foam board I have is 70x100 cm which is 27.5x39.4 inch. Happy Halloween 🎃

[@martakulpa8372]

I adore foam boards. I do all my puzzles on them :-) I don't have such stackable puzzle trays, but I use the same "technology" - I simply lay out all my puzzle pieces face up in tops and bottoms of puzzle boxes from other puzzles... If I work on a larger puzzle, I also lay out the pieces on a foam board. Next, all of it I put on my wardrobe (together with the foam board on which I do a puzzle ;-) It works for me perfectly. When I started my puzzle journey I bought a similar puzzle mat, the one which you roll later, and I hated it as well. It was a grey one from Trefl up to 3k pieces. I did only one puzzle on it and decided - never again. I don't like its colour and those lines showing how big a 1k, 1,5k or 2k puzzle should be. I'm not sure if your had that too... Also, pieces get attached and as you said, you cannot just simply move them around. You have to lift a section and place it in the right spot. That's a nightmare, especially if you have a puzzle in which the pieces don't really stick together... I also don't recommend it. Funny fact is that lots of people use it and are happy with it. It always shocks me... In my country, Poland, pin boards are also popular to do puzzles on. I've never tried them but, I believe, they could work quite well. As to foam boards, well, I believe I'm the only Polish person using them :-D Whenever I suggest it on FB puzzle groups, people have no idea what a foam board is and that you can sort a puzzle on it... I guess, not so many people in Poland watch foreign puzzle channels on KZbin ;-) Nice video, btw! I hope we'll see that 3-thousand-piece Ravensburger puzzle on your channel one day? 🙂

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Same for the foam boards!! 🤩 I used to do the same with puzzle boxes I just found them a bit hard to use as they're quite big 😅 Haha good to hear I'm not the only one! I had a green one, don't remember the brand but it didn't have the sizes marked on it. Everyone finds something that works for them and I also don't get how anyone would like them but each to their own I guess 😊 I think I'm probably the only Slovenian person using them as well because I also suggested it in the FB group and it didn't look like anyone knows what I'm talking about haha 😂 I found out about them by watching Karen Puzzles videos 🤩 You’ll be able to see the 3000 pcs puzzle on my channel once I move to my own place and have more space to do it ☺️

[@martakulpa8372]

@@janetteandherpuzzles I also learnt about foam boards on Karen Puzzles ;-) I'm looking forward to seeing you piece together that 3k piece puzzle once you have moved to your own place. Personally, I've never done a Ravensburger 3k, but I did a 3k from Trefl and Castorland (the size of a 3k piece puzzle from Castorland is as big as a 2k - so, you can imagine how tiny those pieces are, but the finished puzzle looks incredible). I also did one 6k Clementoni, 3900-piece Grafika (there were 2 bags; I did not mix them; so, I cheated, a bit...), and a half of a 9k Educa (I wanted to mix the bags, but I changed my mind once I saw the pieces... Blurred, similar colours and textures. I guess otherwise I'd never finish it; the 2nd half needs to wait for it's turn. I'm definitely not ready to tackle it). It's really nice to do a bigger puzzle once for a while... It gives you more self-satisfaction ;-) Also, I think you need to try more gradient puzzles. The one you had from Trefl, I guess?, was not a very good gradient puzzle... Recently, I fell in love with ENJOY puzzles. That's a new brand, I believe, and they already have like so many different puzzles. The pieces have matte finish. I absolutely love them. And, they have a huge variety of gradient puzzles. I'm not sure how much they cost in your place, but check them out. I think it would be an interesting experience for you to try a matte finished puzzle, as well. From what I know, such puzzles are produced by e.g. Enjoy, Magnolia, Bluebird and Grafika (you need to have those made in Turkey)... Anyway, I like your channel very much 🙂 Your videos are both interesting and enjoyable to watch.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Yeah I heard about the sizes of Castorland puzzles which I think is great especially if you don't have much space 👌🏻 And reg the bigger puzzles I think they're not meant to be mixed otherwise they wouldn't have put them in separate bags. It's to make the puzzling more enjoyable and not frustrating 😊 Definitely have to try more gradient puzzles. I have some in my Amazon basket waiting to be bought 😅🙈 I don't think they sell Enjoy puzzles in Slovenia but I'll check if I can get them online 😉 Thank you again! 🥰

[@gossman75]

I love your blue eyes!

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Thank you! ☺

[@virgogaming6488]

I use tv dinner trays and put large construction paper over it to work on.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

That's a great idea! 🤩

[@virgogaming6488]

@@janetteandherpuzzles It helps your back and not have to slouch as much.

[@kaytorrence8870]

Do you recommend a timer instead of using ones phone

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I just use my phone as I don't even own a timer haha 😅🙈

[@emcarver8983]

Creases!!

[@AnomalijaIncubusic]

Greetings from Belgrade 😀

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Hi there 👋🏻

[@JNG1911]

I've had those hard backed puzzle boards before. when you stand them against a wall, the entire puzzle falls to the bottom and breaks. I would not recommend.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Ok, that never happened to me before, but I can understand how it would happen. I noticed the lose pieces slip to the bottom, so I just removed them all, before storing the puzzle. When I re-record this video, I will try to remember to point that out! Thank you for sharing your experience! 🤗

[@irency85]

Ja, tista podlaga iz blaga je pa največji fail, kar so si lahko umislal za sestavljanke...sm si kupila z namenom, da lahko med drugim tud čist simpl prestavljaš, samo se vse zatakne med tiste nitke...stran vržen denar 😐

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

Se strinjam ja 😅 jst sm mela vsaj to srečo da sm v Angliji to kupila in tm loh use nazaj neses če ti ni ok, tako da so mi vrnil denar usaj 😂👌🏻

[@amandaegeskovhald8222]

Eh, I resprectfully but wholeheartedly disagree. The only things you truly need as a puzzler, is a fun puzzle to your liking, a table large enough for said puzzle, a comfy chair and good lighting. That's it. That's all you MUST HAVE as a puzzler. Those things are just extra fluff to potentially make your puzzling experience better. I don't sort my puzzles, so sorting trays would just be extra clutter in my house. And the few times I do sort, I just use other puzzle boxes as sorting trays. Puzzles boxes works fine in place of those little boards too. And my table is pretty big so I haven't needed large foam boards yet and I don't have a need to move or stash unfinished puzzles either, so I don't need a puzzle board. Litteraly don't need any of these items.

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I agree that that's all you need, but some of us don't have the luxury of having that much space. I was just sharing what made my puzzling easier and more enjoyable and I'm sorry that it didn't help you 😊

[@fortheloveofpuzzles]

I just bought my first puzzle board this week - like the black one you should. I want to use it when we are traveling so I can puzzle in the go. 💜🧩

[@janetteandherpuzzles]

I'm sure you're gonna love it! It's gonna make your life so much easier 😉