Who doesn’t love a quick and easy home decor project? This DIY 3D picture puzzle using pallet off cuts took less than an hour to make and it can be customized to suit any decor and style.

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

I have always loved puzzles and this one is like a simple rubric’s cube that you can solve in 5 seconds flat 😀

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

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What you Need to a 3D Picture Puzzle

To make a picture puzzle you’ll need:

  • 8 square pictures or photos
  • Craft paint
  • Mod Podge
  • Square blocks of wood. We used offcuts from our little pallet stockpile.

Pallet stock pile

Well, it’s not really so little anymore, it seems to be growing at an alarming rate so I might just end up making a whole bunch of these.

How to Make the Puzzle Pieces

If you’re using pallets then the risers will give you the eight square pieces you need. If you don’t have any square bits lying around, just use what you’ve got and cut them to size.

Cut the wood into square blocks

Paint or stain the wood squares in a color that matches your decor.

Paint all sides of the square blocks in a color of your choice

I went for black because it such an easy color to use and it goes with everything.  

Cover all sides of the blocks with a color of your choice

While you wait for the paint to dry print out your images. I found a whole bunch of vintage fruit prints over at The Graphics Fairy that were perfect for this 3D Picture Puzzle. All I had to do was resize them and make them square using paint.net or any other photo editor you’re familiar with. 

A collection of fruit images sourced from the Graphics Fairy
A collection of fruit images sourced from the Graphics Fairy

You can also use old photos or pictures from a magazine; it’s entirely up to you. You will need eight equally sized square images. Tear around the edges of the pictures to add some character.

Tear the borders around the images to give them some character

Cut each picture into four and Mod Podged them onto the squares.

Cut each image into 4 equaly squares and mod podge them onto the blocks

Just be careful not to muddle the pictures up else you’ll never solve the puzzle. Ask me how I know 😉 It’s best to work on four blocks at a time, before moving to the next group of four.

The completed picture glued onto the blocks

And that’s it. So easy right? When all the pictured have been mod podged onto the blocks, the 3D picture puzzle from wood offcuts is done.

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

I think I’ll do a family photo album 3D puzzle with some of the other off-cuts. It could make an awesome gift for my Mom.

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

Those pretty leaves in the background are from our Tapeworm plant. So unusual and off beat. She’s a leaf-less plant with these long flat stems that resemble tapeworms. In Winter she makes these teeny tiny little greenish white flowers and she’s surprisingly drought tolerant. Her leaves always look so pretty in a vase and I thought she made the perfect back drop for our 3D, vintage fruit puzzle piece.

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

If you like the idea of making your own 3D puzzle using scraps of wood, don’t forget to pin it for later.

How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

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How to make a 3D Block puzzle from scrap wood. Fun, easy and customizable to suit any decor style. #DIYPuzzle #DIYDecor #PalletProjects #ACraftyMix #WoodOffCuts

Hope you all have a beautiful, creative week and stay safe.

Made with love by a Crafty Mix