Don’t put that undone puzzle away! Here’s how to make your own easy DIY puzzle board with a game board on the back! Hours of fun to be hand right here starting with a simple bulletin board.
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I recently got into puzzles lately.
My new jigsaw puzzles hobby transpired while watching the news. I wanted to hear what was up, but my mind wandered. What else could I be doing? Knitting? Nah. Embroidery? Maybe. However I wanted a hand hobby that didn’t require much thinking.
That’s when I started scrolling a local Facebook group where someone was generously giving away puzzles. Wow! What timing! I didn’t hesitate… I picked up a puzzle with a picture that really resonated for me (around 500 pieces and an easy picture LOL) and ended up really enjoying the peaceful activity.
Sharing my new puzzle hobby on social media, someone asked to see the DIY jigsaw puzzle board I was using.
What’s a DIY puzzle board?
Hmm… Truth be told? I didn’t own one of those official jigsaw puzzle tables. I had simply plunked the puzzle pieces on top of a cork bulletin board as a means of carrying it around. But I admit, as I worked on the puzzle, I was dreaming up ways to refine the board itself to better suit the task and look prettier.
So this request became the perfect challenge! I already loved using a cork board as a puzzle table, so I set out to flip a good idea in into a GREAT one by turning a plain cork board into a super cool and official DIY puzzle board!
And then it became so much more…
What you’re about to see transpire is certainly one-of-a-kind by doing something extra special to the back for those who love tic tac toe and a fun game of checkers now and then…
So no more need to pack up your undone puzzles any longer or do without your dining room table. Grab a cork board and make this DIY puzzle board / game board combo for yourself or for a unique gift idea!
Here’s the step-by-step instructions on making your own DIY puzzle game table.
This post contains some Amazon affiliate links in which I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thank-you for helping to support my blog!
Easy DIY puzzle board with a game board on the back!
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Office bulletin board project – view original post HERE
I revamped this previous project to make this new game board!
Supplies I used:
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A pre-made bulletin board with wood frame (mine is 24″ x 36″)
Stencils: from Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils
Fusion Mineral Paint products (find a merchant HERE)
3 x 3 post
A puzzle of choice! (see my own collection on Amazon HERE)
How to make the DIY puzzle board side
1. Choose a bulletin board that is slightly larger than most of your puzzles. Mine is 24″ x 36″.
I really like the bulletin board idea because the trim creates a picture frame of sorts, holding in the loose pieces. And you don’t need woodworker skills to use a ready-made board!
However even a cut down piece of plywood or sheet of mdf could work too. You could always add your own frame if desired.
2. Masking tape around the frame of a cork board, then paint the top of a bulletin board a paint color of choice.
I used Fusion’s Ash because I liked how rich the dark background looked against a puzzle!
Painting and waxing the board
3. Remove the masking tape, then coat the painted cork and wood frame trim with Fusion’s Beeswax.
While Fusion doesn’t require a topcoat, I desired a surface that felt a little smoother to the touch vs. the matte finish Fusion leaves. A light coat of Beeswax was perfect!
The Beeswax also helped to enhance the wooden bulletin board frame as well.
How to apply Beeswax
- Apply Beeswax to your chosen surface with a rag.
- Leave for a few minutes, then buff off the excess.
- Repeat if you’d like to increase durability or sheen.
I LOVED the outcome… but desired to add a tiny bit of personally to that scrumptious wood frame…
Shipping Crate Stamps stencil HERE
Adding stencil details
Shipping Crate Stamps is a stencil designed to mimic pallet stamped wood.
Visit this and other the pallet-styled stencils HERE
4. Using the Shipping Crate Stamps stencil and Fusion’s Ash, small areas of the frame were enhanced by stenciling random pallet styled lettering on the wood frame.
I was tempted to stencil something tone-on-tone in the middle of the board, but I ultimately decided to leave it plain so it didn’t compete with a puzzle picture.
Seriously, the perfect DIY puzzle tray… that was about to get even better!
How to stencil the frame
- Position stencil in place, then hold or use masking tape.
- Load stencil brush with paint, then off-load most on a rag to create a dry brush feel.
- Tap the stencil until desired effect is achieved.
You can learn more about how to stencil from THIS POST.
Find stencils at: Buffalo Check – medium / Tic Tac Toe
How to make the game board side
5. Flip the bulletin board over to the other side, and either coat the surface with paint or leave as-is.
I choose to leave it as-is, although it would be more washable if it was painted.
6. Two stencils were used to create a Checkers board and Tic Tac Toe game!
How to stencil a Buffalo Check pattern
7. Stencil a stylish checkerboard using Buffalo Check stencil.
Although this stencil is not originally designed to be a checkerboard, the scale works excellent and is easy to modify! Click below for the video to learn how to stencil a checkers board from it!
8. Stencil just the main lines of Tic Tac Toe.
Checkerboard Video How-to
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Visit full Checkerboard Game tutorial HERE
9. Once the game boards were complete, Shipping Crate Stamps was used to stencil the wooden frame to give it a crate vibe.
Simply position parts of the stencil where desired, then stencil in black.
Fun, right?!
Make game pieces from scrap wood
Creating your own game board pieces is easy with a few select scrap wood pieces. Here’s how to make both wooden DIY checkers and wooden Tic Tac Toe square game pieces…
How to make DIY wooden checkers
10. Create wooden checkers game pieces by cutting wood slices out of a wooden closet dowel to 3/8 thick using a miter saw.
Stencil on top of the checkers to design them if desired.
How to make square wooden tic tac toe game pieces
11. Make X and O game pieces by slicing a 3″ x 3″ square post 3/8″ thick with a miter saw.
Stencil Xs and Os from the Tic Tac Toe stencil.
See how the pieces were made for both games through the tutorials below:
Make a Checkerboard from scrap wood HERE
Learn how to make a Tic Tac Toe game tray HERE
Turn the DIY puzzle board into a games table
So, your DIY puzzle table with game board on the back is now complete! You are free to carry it around wherever you desire to use it! And I’ll show you more ways to use it below. But first…
This is when I pulled this little metal framed table out of my own stash. It worked perfectly for a game board base and doubled up as a coffee table as well!
Overall table measurements:
17″ deep x 28″ wide x 22.5″ high
The bottom shelf was made from two cut reclaimed wood planks, then set loosely in place on top of the bottom framework.
Completed DIY jigsaw puzzle table
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Tadaa! Isn’t this DIY puzzle board the coolest?!
It’s the right height, offers plenty of space, and is totally moveable wherever desired! So let’s just sit on the couch for a good long spell and have some fun!
A framed bulletin board is so lightweight and the frame helps keep the pieces on the board when you move it to another location! It works so well!
And the puzzle looks beautiful on the plain dark backdrop!
Although puzzles do require patience, don’t they? Some sure do. Are you fussy about which puzzles you choose too? I always choose ones that are different all over so I’m not working for days on one color, know what I mean?
How to organize puzzle pieces
Various surfaces such as baking pans, muffin tins, pie plates, etc were used to organize the loose pieces. You really don’t need anything fancy!
Tip: consider flat surfaces such as small cutting boards, white foam sheet or heavy cardboard so loose pieces can slide off easily.
Visit many other puzzle table ideas on Amazon HERE
Game board side reveal
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Done with your puzzle? Flip the board around and let’s have a game of Checkers or Tic-Tac-Toe!
The game pieces are stored in a baking pan and some other metal container on the 2nd shelf of this little table. This is the perfect little work station for fun and games!
Using some repurposed dresser drawers would provide some great storage as well.
With game pieces in place
I love the neutral, rustic design! Fits right in with farmhouse decor! Looks so pretty one could glue the pieces in place where desired and hang it on the wall for games room artwork…
Now… which game should we play first?
I choose BOTH! Goodness this games board side turned out fun!
What a great project!
But I have one more bright idea to share…
How to cover the puzzle to use as a table
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So what happens if you’re knee-deep into a great puzzle but you’d like to use the table as a table for the short-term?
If you use two bulletin boards, you can have an instant coffee table while working on a puzzle!
Place blocks of wood in all 4 corners of the puzzle board, (or closer as shown if you wish to use a tray) then place another bulletin board on TOP.
Then it’s truly a game board AND coffee table all-in-one without removing the puzzle. What a perfect way to leave a puzzle out long term without actually being in the way of regular living!
Buffalo Checked tray – tutorial HERE
Wild Flower Seeds Pillow – tutorial HERE
Then pack it all away and there you have your coffee table ready for the next game or puzzle to come!
Now I can’t decide if it’s puzzle time, coffee time or time for a few games…
I think I’ll enjoy a coffee or 3 while I decide.
Think you’ll create a DIY puzzle board with a game board on the back? Which part inspires you the most?
Other DIY game boards:
Make this scrap wood Checkerboard and checkers
Tic Tac Toe game tray with game pieces
Visit many other creative stencil projects HERE
Shop for Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils HERE
What a great idea! I always look forward to your posts. Everything is just to my liking (just wish I thought of them lol).
Thank you for sharing ?
Haha! Thanks Tricia! Happy I can provide the hard thinking part and share so you can just do it!
OMG!!!! That is such an amazing idea. I have wanted to do puzzles, but I have no space to work on one. This would work. Of course, I will have to buy a new board, but that’s ok. Thanks for the idea. Have you ever thought with your love of Hawaii making Hawaiian stencils?
Thanks again for such a great idea.
Thanks Erin!
Yes! Go get a new bulletin board! It’s so worth it! Mine was newish so it still turned out feeling new. Not all repurposed projects do. I just wanted something portable because I really do need every single surface actively in use in my home. This makes that easy!
Thanks for the stencil idea! I have done a coffee stencil with a Hawaiian option to it, however not broadly. I have to be really careful of country names, towns and actual stores due to copyright infringement issues. It’s tricky to stay compliant.
But if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to email me at donna@funkyjunkinteriors.net
I am kicking myself for donating my Mom’s cork bulletin board several weeks ago. What a great idea turning them into a puzzle and game board! I’m showing my sister this who also has been making puzzles these days.
Thanks Marie! All I know is, it’s working so well over here! For puzzle making AND relaxing! haha
Great ideas here, for some wonderful new puzzles take a look at the Cobble Hill Puzzle Company online, you may be surprised! Ann lee S
Thanks for the recommendation Ann!
I’m now on my 2nd puzzle and it’s feeling like a little bit of an addiction at this point. It’s a very calming activity. I poke at it when my mind needs to settle down. LOVE my new hobby!
That’s fantastic! I love this idea, and love that you dressed it up with my fav stencils.
I’m glad you found a distraction you enjoy.
Have fun Donna!
This is just brilliant! and cute and adorable!
Earlier this year I saw a movie called Puzzle. It was about competitive puzzle teams. They were very fast at putting puzzles together. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the movie but it ended up being pretty good. At Thanksgiving our family puts together a puzzle every year. You look like you organize your pieces. Do you do it by shape? That was one of the things in the movie different people had their own way how to complete their puzzle.
I love this. I think I need a patio version of it.
Brilliant idea!!!!! Love how it turned out and that it serves a dual purpose too. So perfect for a small space
I have used a cork board for years to do puzzles. Not once did I ever consider giving it a “makeover”! What a brilliant idea!
Oh how smart! It was a new thought in my own little mind so I’ll just pretend I invented it… HAHA!
I really like this idea. We play backgammon and like I mentioned on Instagram this idea would be neat for our RV Table. Still pondering it, a great summer project when I’m stuck indoors. As I was reading and scrolling through the pictures, I was thinking how neat your home is. You’ve personalized it perfectly with your craft beautifully.
❤️❤️This idea! Just bought the board @Target. Can I use regular acrylic stencil paint?
And Briwax? Thank you.
Hi Gail, I think those products would be fine! I’d suggest to do a test on scrap wood to ensure you’re happy with the outcome as I’m not familar with Briwax.