Making a Puzzle With a Recycled Cereal Box

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.46.17 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.44.59 PM.png

I love being able to reuse everyday things - for this project I used my cricut maker machine to transform a cereal box into a fun puzzle. Of course, I had to use a picture on my sweet senior cat Lia, 19 years young.

Supplies

Printable sticker paper (full sheet) or printable vinyl — I used the the Staples brand of full sheet sticker paper
Light chipboard (aka a cereal box)
Deep-point blade
StrongGrip mat
Cricut machine or other type of cutting machine

Cut Cereal Box

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.33.48 AM.png

I'm using an 81/2 x 11 sheet of sticky paper so I cut a piece of the cereal box big enough to make that fit.

Print Image and Place on the Cardboard Piece

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.41.37 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.37.38 AM.png

I used my ink jet printer to print the image of my cat on a full sized (81/2 x 11) label sticky sheet - it was OK but I would recommend using a laser printer if you have access. I also trimmed off the excess pieces of cardboard.

Create Project in the Cricut Design Space

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.34.23 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.34.45 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.42.34 PM.png

You create a new project in the the Cricut Design Space, and then upload the image you're working with and a puzzle template (I got mine from JenniferMaker.com but I've uploaded it here to make it easier for anyone wanting to do this project). Then you place the puzzle template on top of the image and then center the 2, and once that's done, you attach them together.

Downloads

rectangle-heart-puzzle.svg

Place Cardboard With Image on Strong Grip Mat

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.35.40 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.34.59 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-01 at 11.35.28 AM.png

I also added some painters tape along the edges to make sure it stayed put. Then I loaded it into the machine, selecting "cereal box" as my material. I also loaded the deep point blade.

Let the Cricut Machine Do the Cutting

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.40.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 1.40.07 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-04 at 5.06.58 PM.png

Once all the pieces are cut, it's easier to remove all the puzzle pieces with them facing down. And that's it, you have a puzzle!

Make the Puzzle!

Screen Shot 2022-12-04 at 5.08.48 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-12-04 at 5.10.53 PM.png

This was such a fun project, and it will make the perfect gift for my mom that loves her fur baby so much!