I thought I'd share some ideas for altering a jigsaw. One way of doing it anyway, there are many techniques from painting to paper, stamping, printing, fabrics...
This one is a wooden jigsaw, but the same process can be used for the cardboard ones. You just have to be a bit more gentle with them. You can possibly start a cardboard jigsaw at stage 4 since most of them aren't as shiny. It depends on the jigsaw though.
This is what I ended up with...
And this is the process, I hope it's helpful!
1. Buy a jigsaw! As I said, this is a wooden one and it sits in a frame.
2. Rough it up a bit with sandpaper so the paint adheres properly.
3. Wipe the 'dust' off it so it's clean. Better than
proper dusting!
4. Paint a thin layer of acrylic paint carefully on the surface.
5. Then another thin layer.
6. Make sure you wipe up the paint on the edges so it fits together properly.
7. Add a little 'olive green'
8. Some 'phthalo green'
9. And a little 'sap green'. Can you tell I really like greens?
10. 'winsor blue'. Blues are cool too!
It's good to vary the paint on the pieces to create some differences in the pieces.
11. and 'cadmium yellow'...for a bit of variety!
12.Paint the frame using the same palette. I also cut paper to size to fit into the base. I did this by drawing around the jigsaw. I inked the edges with black ink just by running the paper though it.
13. Don't forget to paint the edges!
14. All painted up.
15. Add doodly details with marker and ink pen. Make sure it will dry properly on the acrylic paint. You might want to do a test first.
16. Drag out some of your paper stash and root through it for useful little bits. Preferably pick a weekend when your bloke is away so you can make as much mess as you like
Resist the urge to get it all out and throw it around the room just for the hell of it. Mmm paper...
17. Pick out potential papers. Wow, say that twice fast!
18. Start trimming the papers into shapes/pictures you might want to use on your pieces.
19. Arrange the papers on the jigsaw pieces as they fit, and then glue them down when you're happy with the layout.
20. Add buttons and whatnot as you like on top, depending on how flat/raised you want it, doodle on/around the papers with the black pens, and you're done!
I hope that's useful! Let me know if you have any questions!
