My eldest finished putting together a wooden puzzle adorned with leaves and a dragonfly. It was much too pretty to go back in the box! So I bought a 20×30 inch frame for it, which included the glass and backing. This wood puzzle fit together so well that I was able to gently pick it up and turn it over without resorting to using glue. The puzzle dimensions were just shy of the 20×30 frame measurement, but it fit inside without needing matting. (If you can’t tell, I’m really impressed with the construction of this puzzle.)

The rotating tabs on the back were tight, but with the help of a pair of pliers, I was able to get them locked in. It helped also that there was a fraction of space between the puzzle and the frame, and the backing could flex a bit. The result was a tight fit that holds the puzzle in place. Still without glue.

The frame came with attached loops, so I strung some framing wire (multi-stranded steel cable) from loop to loop, and wrapped it on itself on both sides. This makes it much easier to hang and adjust the level of the picture. I used a monkey hook to hang the picture on the wall. I find the monkey hooks to be superior to command strips because small holes are easier to fix than ripped out paint and texture (as can happen if the contact strip is removed too fast).

This was by far the easiest framing project I’ve done, and I’m still in a little bit of shock.