Make Your Own Custom Puzzle From a Picture

Jigsaw puzzles are a classic activity that you can do as a family or tackle on your own. From an educational toy for kids to a challenge for adults, puzzles have numerous uses. Most importantly, they’re a great way to bring people together and capture memories. A personalized photo puzzle complete with your own photos is the perfect gift that acts as a fun activity, sweet keepsake, and gorgeous art piece. From toddler puzzles, kid puzzles, and adult puzzles; there is a perfect type of jigsaw puzzle for everyone. You can find out below how to make your own custom puzzle from a picture based on the level of difficulty you want, ranging from different sizes and materials. Explore all the custom options you can create with Shutterfly’s puzzle maker.

Jigsaw puzzles come in all shapes, sizes, and piece counts, but the image you’re building is the most important part. Make it even more special and surprise your loved ones with a family photo puzzle they’ll truly love putting together. Whether they’re a toddler, teenager, or adult, anyone can enjoy this fun, collaborative indoor activity. Here’s how to create your own custom photo puzzle from a picture.

How to Make Your Personalized Puzzle From a Picture

Making your own custom jigsaw puzzle from a photo or photos is easy. Take the time to figure out how you want the puzzle to look in its final form and unleash your creativity with the design and layout of your pictures. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to creating your amazing photo gift.

Person putting together a collage puzzle.

Step 1: Choose Your Puzzle

When you’re ready to make your own puzzle, first select your puzzle type. Choose among countless picture puzzle options like having a single photo, a photo collage, specific text, or other illustrations. You can use page filters to choose a specific piece count, number of photos you’d like to include, and overall design color. If you’re planning this great gift for a specific occasion such as a wedding or Christmas, you can include those details as well. Finally, consider filtering for the material you want — you can choose between a puzzle board or a wooden puzzle.

If you’re looking for a jigsaw puzzle for small children who might not be able to complete one with 1,000 pieces, select one of many personalized kids puzzles where you can use the same filters as before, except now the puzzle piece option is 30.

Step 2: Select Your Puzzle Size

Once you select your template, don’t forget to choose your puzzle size. If you used a filter to find your picture puzzle style based on size, feel free to skip this step. Since size depends on the puzzle piece count, make sure you choose the size that fits the age group and ability level of whoever is going to be completing it. Choose from multiple different sizes and piece counts ranging from 30 to over 1,000.

Family picture puzzles.

Step 3: Customize Your Puzzle Design

Next, click “Personalize” and create your puzzle design. Depending on your puzzle size and style, select the number of photos you want to have and their layout. Choose if and where you would like the text to be, and fill in what you’d like to appear on your puzzle, whether that’s a simple monogram, a sweet quote about the importance of family, or the year the photos are from. Customize your font, colors, and format as you see fit. Lastly, pick a fun background color from a variety of solid and patterned options for the areas that don’t have photos.

Step 4: Upload Photos

Now for the most important part of your personalized picture puzzle — adding pictures! Click on each open photo slot to upload your favorite picture or several of your own photos you’d like to use. If you’re creating a puzzle of one photo, consider using a beautiful landscape shot featuring the kids from a memorable family vacation. A family portrait with your pets is also a great option.

Puzzle with dog.If you’re opting for a collage puzzle featuring multiple photos, choose a theme that unites them for a more cohesive look. For example, showcase each family member doing their favorite activity as a sweet tribute to their uniqueness and diverse interests. Or, create a collage puzzle of all your besties wearing their college gear. Put the jigsaw puzzle together and frame it to let it become a sentimental piece of wall art.

Step 5: Enjoy!

Once you’re done customizing your photo jigsaw puzzle, make sure to preview your finished product to see if all the photos work well together and the background colors look good. Finalize your puzzle and order this exciting gift. Once you receive your personalized puzzle, enjoy this fun indoor activity as a solo project or with others. Settle in with a warm mug of coffee in a custom mug for a cozy afternoon.

Puzzle on coffee table.


High-Quality Puzzles For Adults

Completing jigsaw puzzles are a great way for adults to improve memory and reduce stress from their everyday life. It’s also a great way to get away from our technology-based world, by getting away from computer monitors and TV screens. Expand your interactive, tactile and collaborative skills by completing a custom photo puzzle with your family and friends. Working on a jigsaw puzzle will not only build bonds with your family and friends but will also improve team problem-solving skills and relationships. Once you complete this personalized jigsaw puzzle, the end result will bring simple to your face as a sense of accomplishment. Perfect as personalized gift ideas for anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and birthdays, making their own jigsaw puzzle from their own photos is great for everyone on your list.

unfinished jigsaw puzzle on a table

Fun Puzzles For Kids

Create a personalized kids jigsaw puzzle for your kids to develop their motor and learning skills with fun puzzles with a small number of pieces. Our kids templates come with 30 puzzle pieces, allowing kids to be completely engaged with finishing their activity. They’ll love adding their own picture to the design to see their special memories or favorite characters come together piece by piece. To make things more exciting for your kids, choose a photograph of them or a family picture; as they complete the unique puzzle they can see the photo come to life and they will be more intrigued to complete the whole thing. Let your children learn proper problem solving skills and help them stay focused while completing their photo puzzles for kids.

little girl doing a jigsaw puzzle with her dad

Closing Thoughts

Create a fun family project for people of all ages with a personalized jigsaw puzzle filled with your favorite photos and memories. Choose from dozens of styles, layouts, and puzzle sizes to make your perfect custom activity and keepsake. Whoever receives this amazing gift is sure to love the uniqueness and thoughtfulness of it — they’ll surely have fun putting together this one-of-a-kind picture puzzle.