PUZZLE TRAYS? YES, PLEASE!

What is the best way to build a jigsaw puzzle? There is no right or wrong answer, but this does not mean that people don’t have strong opinions. Despite the variation in methods the same challenges beset puzzlers regardless of method.  Some obstacles are keeping all the puzzle pieces together, having an undisturbed workspace, storing the work in progress, and sorting the pieces. Over the years of building traditional jigsaw puzzles, one indispensable tool we have found is the puzzle tray.   Here are some of the ways we have found to use puzzle trays in our puzzling, but we are interested in getting your ideas as well.

• AS A PUZZLE TRAY: the first use of a puzzle tray is a sturdy surface on which to build your jigsaw puzzle. Some get a larger tray than the dimensions of the jigsaw puzzle they are making; this provides room around the puzzle border for working with loose pieces. If you’re worried about not knowing the size of the puzzle border, you can use a marker and draw the puzzle size on the board.

• AS A SORTING SURFACE: One common step is to sort the pieces by color or shape. Being able to share the sorted pieces makes building the puzzle as a team easier. The mobility of a puzzle tray makes it ideal for a sorting surface that can be passed between people. It is even a great assist when one is working alone.

• TO STORE: Some like to separate their pieces into containers. We suggest getting a 5 or 6 pack of flat, square storage containers at the grocery store. Double-sided tape or glue the containers on a puzzle tray to sort the pieces into them. Since they have lids, you can close them and protect loose tiles. Like we stated above, it also makes them portable.

• THE MULTIPLE TRAY APPROACH: using two or three puzzle trays works very well. Have the jigsaw puzzle being assembled on one tray, then use a second tray to hold your sorting containers or as your sorting surface.  It may seem to take up room, but when it comes time to pause, place one tray on top of the other to keep the loose pieces safe and protect puzzle in progress.

These are a few ideas we have found that have made building jigsaw puzzles more efficient, productive, and fun. We look forward to your comments on using puzzle trays or other accessories to help you do puzzles.

SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Dowdle Folk Art, we currently offer three puzzle trays with varying interior sizes. This includes a 16” x 20” tray, a 19.25” x 26.625” tray, and a 7” x 9” tray. The 16" x 20" is designed to fit most of our 100, 300, and 500-piece puzzles, while the 7" x 9" fits our Dowdle Mini Puzzles. 

Our 19.25" x 26.625" is for Dowdle's 1000-piece puzzles and 500-piece "best of" puzzles. All to say, we have jigsaw puzzle trays for all of our puzzles, whether you purchase one of our traditional puzzles or our newer puzzles.

We have the best puzzle trays you'll find online

There are several features that make our puzzle trays special. The first is their varying sizes, which we’ve created to ensure you find the perfect fit for your Dowdle puzzle. Our trays are also built to last using high-quality materials. 

What truly sets this product apart, however, is how versatile and convenient it is. Aren’t you tired of always having to do puzzles at your dining room table or coffee table? With our puzzle tray, you can easily do puzzles anywhere in your home, whether you're sitting on the couch, on your bed, or even out on the porch. The best part is, if after a while you decide you'd like to do your puzzle elsewhere, you can easily transport it with our lightweight trays.You're also welcome to call us if you need any additional information or reassurance in selecting your puzzle tray.

Change the way you do puzzles with our puzzle tray

While our puzzle trays help stop pieces from going missing, we do have a no missing pieces guarantee. If your newly purchased Dowdle puzzle arrives with already missing or damaged pieces, we'll quickly send you an entirely new bag of pieces for that same puzzle.  

Of course, this is only one aspect of our customer-oriented approach. We also offer free shipping from our store in Lindon, Utah on all orders over $50 across the lower 48 states. Have any questions about our puzzle trays, shipping, or anything else? Please don't hesitate to fill out our inquiry form or call us at 801-785-1123. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.