DIY Puzzle Mat

Do you like building puzzles but don’t have space where you can build them? A puzzle mat is the perfect solution!

It can be laid out on the floor or dining room table, then when you’re done working on it for the day, it can be rolled up and put away for later.

The only problem with the Puzzle Mats (<<affiliate link) you purchase, is that you are limited in the size of puzzle you can build on them.

This is what my husband, Dave ran into when he rediscovered his love of building jigsaw puzzles. The roll-up puzzle mat we bought worked great except for puzzles that were too big to fit on the piece of felt provided.

Our solution was to make a larger mat that would fit almost any puzzle Dave chose to work on.

Want to make one for yourself?

DIY Puzzle Mat

Here’s what you’ll need to make a Puzzle Mat:

Green felt (It comes in 72” width. I used felt leftover from another project.)

Tape measure

Ruler

Rotary cutter & Cutting Mat or scissors

To Make the Puzzle Mat:

Square up one end of the felt.

Measure and mark 36 inches from the squared off end at several places along the felt.

The final step was to line up the ruler along those marks and cut.

It’s that simple, the puzzle mat was done.

Don’t have felt on hand like I did? Then making a puzzle mat is even easier. Simply buy a yard of felt at a fabric store and you’re good to go!

You may have to do some hunting to find a cardboard tube to wrap the puzzle and puzzle mat around.

We got ours from a neighbor who was putting in new flooring. It had come wrapped around a large 4″ X 8′ heavy duty tube.

8′ was definitely way too long.

So Dave cut it down to 38 inches using a hacksaw.

Here he’s got a puzzle all spread out on the mat…

And now the puzzle is rolled up and ready to put away until next time he wants to work on it.

This project was zero out of pocket for us as we already had the felt and the cardboard tube was free.

But even if you need to purchase fabric, it runs around $5.99/yd. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores regularly offer 40% coupons that you could use to buy the yard of fabric needed for this project.

For the cardboard tube, ask at your local flooring store to see if they have an extra cardboard roll they’d like to get rid of.

One of these DIY puzzle mats would make a great inexpensive gift for the puzzle lover in your circle of family and friends.

Make one for yourself and several more for gifts!

Interested in some more No Sew Gift Ideas?

Create a family favorites recipe box to give to a newly wed couple or to younger members of the family for Christmas.

These simple and inexpensive Busy Bags for Children made from dollar store items are great gifts to have on hand when you need a quick gift.

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