Photo Puzzle

• 1). Decide on a type and theme for a puzzle. Use a photo or favorite picture to create your own custom puzzle.
  
  
• 2). Make your own puzzle by printing out a photo or use a commercially printed photo. Seal the printed photo with clear acrylic matte spray or spray photo sealer.
  
  Glue the photo to a base. Use a craft foam sheet, available craft shops, for a base that is easy to cut. Glue photos to picture framing matboard for a sturdier base that also can be cut with scissors or a razor knife.
  
  
• 3). After the glue is dry, cut out the puzzle pieces in a freehand design as desired. Or draw thin lines on top of the photo with a thin permanent marker to form puzzle shapes. Cut out on the lines.
  
  

Wood Puzzle

• 1). Glue a photo to thin plywood or airplane skin wood, which is thinner than regular plywood. Let dry and seal.
  
  
• 2). After the glue is dry, cut out shapes freehand with an electric jigsaw.
  
  
• 3). If you want lines to guide your cuts, draw freehand or geometric shapes on the photo with permanent marker and then cut them out with a jigsaw.
  
  

Coloring Book Puzzle

• 1). Convert a photo on your computer to a line drawing or sketch. Print out the photo in black and white or gray tones on matte photo paper or regular paper. Do not seal.
  
  
• 2). Glue the photo to a puzzle base of craft foam, heavy cardstock, matboard or wood. Don't seal the photo before it is colored.
  
  
• 3). Invite the kids to color in the photo with markers, colored pencils, crayons or paints. Seal the colored picture (excluding crayon) before cutting out shaped pieces.
  
  

Family Games

• 1). Use your favorite game as the inspiration for your own personal family game that is fun to play and makes a great family heirloom.
  
  Invite children to draw a curving pathway on paper for the playing field.
  
  Divide areas into boxes with actions based on family events such as "Graduation: Move one square" and "Toothache: Go to dentist. Miss a turn."
  
  
• 2). Have kids color in the boxes. Add colored spaces to match bonus cards. For a fun personalized touch, glue in photos or have kids make drawings to match the box. Seal coloring after completed.
  
  
• 3). Make a playing board by gluing colored paper to craft foam sheet, matboard or thin airplane wood.
  
  Spray with sealer to preserve after the art is finished.
  
  Make the game action-based, where players roll a die or dice and follow directions on the board.
  
  Include additional question cards with or without numbers as desired. If using cards, players move the number of units prescribed on a card if they answer the question correctly. A minus number can be given on a card for incorrect answers, with players moving backward or missing a turn.
  
  
• 4). Make bonus cards by cutting small rectangles from heavy cardstock. Decide on the number of bonuses. For example, a room cleaned without asking could earn a big bonus for a player. Write in the directions and have the children draw the accompanying pictures.
  
  
• 5). Original games can be made using various themes such as family history, pets, family members, local town or state history and family vacations. Add learning opportunities by incorporating numbers or questions in the answers.
  
  To make a game box, trace the board, adding 1 to 1.5 inches on each side for flaps. Cut out and tape the edges. Or add extra flaps at the corners to fold in. Do the same to make a box top. Color or add your own photo labels. Or make a box by enlarging a pre-made box template.