How to Turn Your Child’s Drawing into a Jigsaw Puzzle

Picture this: your child has just handed you the sweetest crayon masterpiece—a messy swirl of colors that only a parent (or grandparent!) could interpret as a fire-breathing dragon, or maybe it’s a unicorn with nine legs… who knows? Kids’ imaginations are wild, and their drawings are pure magic. Instead of letting that adorable scribble get lost in the kitchen drawer, why not transform it into a puzzle? It’s a keepsake, a fun activity, and a fantastic way to preserve their creativity.

Below, we’ll walk you through every step—from scanning or snapping a photo of the artwork, to choosing the right puzzle piece count, to ordering your custom creation. Let’s get started!

1. Capture the Artwork

The very first step is making sure you have a good, clear image of your child’s drawing.

Take a Photo: Place your kid's artwork on a flat surface with good lighting. Natural sunlight or a well-lit area works wonders.
Scan It: If you have a scanner at home, just pop the drawing in and scan at high resolution (300 DPI or higher is awesome).
Tidy Up: If there are smudges around the edges, use a simple photo-editing app to crop or brighten the image.

The goal is to capture the colors and lines so that the puzzle pieces really pop!

2. Pick the Perfect Puzzle Size

Here’s where the magic happens: picking a puzzle size that’s just right for your child’s age (or your entire family!). Luckily, our friends at SwappyPrint offer five puzzle sizes:

30 pieces (Ages 3–5)
- Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who are still mastering those fine motor skills.
- The pieces are bigger and easier to handle, so little hands can confidently piece everything together.
110 pieces (Ages 6–8)
- Ready for a bit more challenge, but not too tricky.
- Great if your child has started to complete simpler puzzles and wants to level up.
252 pieces (Ages 9–12)
- This size is ideal once your kid has a solid puzzle foundation and loves a moderate challenge.
- Perfect for a fun rainy-day activity that keeps them busy and creatively engaged.
500 pieces (Ages 13+)
- Now we’re talking serious puzzle territory!
- This is the sweet spot if you want a puzzle the whole family can solve together on a cozy weekend.
1000 pieces (Teens & Grown-Ups)
- Feel like going pro? A 1000-piece puzzle is no joke, but it’s oh-so-rewarding.
- This is an awesome project to tackle as a family—especially if you frame it afterward as a keepsake.

If you’re not quite sure, I recommend going one level up from what you think your child can do on their own. After all, it’s fun to grow into a puzzle challenge!

3. Upload Your Masterpiece

Once you’ve chosen the right puzzle size, it’s time to upload that artwork!

Go to the product page: Head to SwappyPrint’s Custom Photo Puzzle page.
Select your puzzle size: 30, 110, 252, 500, or 1000 pieces.
Upload the drawing: Hit “Upload Image” (or a similar button), and select your child’s artwork from your phone or computer.
Adjust and preview: Make sure you preview the puzzle image so you can see exactly how it’ll look. Cropping or repositioning might help if the edges got cut off.

4. Wait for the Magic

All that’s left is to finalize your order, grab a cup of tea (or coffee if it’s been one of those days), and wait for your custom puzzle to arrive!

Shipping and Packaging: It usually arrives in a neat little box—often with the chosen image on the front, so your kids know it’s their special creation.
Reveal Time: When it comes, let your child do the unboxing. Watching their reaction to their own artwork turned into a puzzle is pure gold.

5. Puzzle Time!

Here’s a tip: encourage your child to solve it themselves first, or make it a family puzzle night. If the puzzle is more challenging than they’re used to, guide them with gentle hints—like sorting pieces by color or focusing on corners and edges.

Bonus: After the puzzle is complete, you can even frame it. Hang it in their bedroom or the playroom—it’s a keepsake that’s uniquely theirs.

Ready to Get Started?

Kids’ drawings are like little windows into their imagination. Turning one into a puzzle does more than just preserve the memory—it gives your child (and you!) a hands-on way to appreciate their creativity over and over.

So go ahead, rummage through that stack of doodles, pick your favorite, and head over to SwappyPrint’s Custom Photo Puzzle page. In just a few clicks, you’ll be on your way to creating a fun, lasting treasure your kiddo will love putting together!

Happy puzzling—and may your child’s imagination shine in every piece!