Thinking Outside the Box Image

by Jen Thompson

I have always been a big fan of cardboard jigsaw puzzles. As a child my favorite puzzles were  100 piece Milton Bradley puzzles featuring Peanuts characters or Garfield. But it was pretty recently that I started experiencing wooden puzzles, and I’ve been delighted to expand my puzzling experience with the different tactile feel of wooden puzzles - especially those that are handcut with that oh-so-tight fit.

As I’ve delved into the handcut wooden puzzle world, I’ve been surprised—and dare I say, a bit dismayed—to encounter so many that do NOT provide you with a box that shows you the image! I know that there are many puzzlers out there who consider “looking at the box” to make their challenge too easy. But for me, that image on the box is critical. I really have a hard time getting through a puzzle without that compass, that guiding light, which leads me to the satisfying completion of the art on that puzzle. It keeps me sane, guiding me through sorting and providing me with a gauge towards the finish line. 

When I first encountered a wooden puzzle that did not come with an image, I thought it was a fluke. But it soon became clear that this is more common than I had initially feared… and to be honest, I’ve just avoided the puzzles that don’t come with an image on the box (despite knowing that I was missing out on some delightful artisanal puzzles).

A delightful, hand-cut wooden puzzle from Puzzlapy - with image-free packaging!

But then, one day while working on a cardboard puzzle with a dear friend, I had a discussion that made me re-consider my attitude. The puzzle we were assembling was a challenging one - full of repeating images and with no discernable areas of differing colors or patterns. I repeatedly picked up the box to pore over the image, straining my eyes to find the specific area where a piece might fit. As I grumbled my complaints of frustration, my friend casually shrugged her shoulders and said, “I never really look at the picture. I just look at the pieces.” 

With our different tactics, my friend and I were about on par with each other when it comes to how many pieces we were assembling. But what struck me is that she was much more relaxed than I was. She was immersed in the puzzle pieces themselves, focused not on where any individual piece belonged but on how the pieces would connect with each other to reveal the artwork. Rather than stressing over how her progress compared to the image on the box, she was in a “flow” state - and seemed to be truly enjoying the experience. It was an “aha” moment that caused me to reflect on how my approach to puzzling was taking what should be a relaxing and fun activity and turning it into a tedious exercise. 

Since that day, I’ve been a bit more thoughtful about how I approach a puzzle - be it wooden or cardboard. When I find myself closely examining the picture on a puzzle box, over and over again as I hunt for pieces, I try to hit pause and challenge myself to put the box down and just focus on the pieces. The experience is strikingly different. I find myself noticing more details about the artwork and appreciating the variation in shapes. When I put the box aside, I am more fully immersed in the experience of “discovering” the artwork as I assemble the puzzle. It leaves me with a feeling of being more connected to the artist behind the image. It’s a small change that makes me feel more present and in-tune with what I am doing.

Don’t get me wrong - I am not 100% box image free! Whenever I start a new puzzle, I still prop up that image and consult it periodically. But I’m trying my best not to let it be a crutch that I don’t need. And I think I may be nearing the point where I’m ready to tackle some of those handcut wooden gems that I had passed over before.

So I’m curious, Puzzle People… do you always look at the image on the box? Have you ever challenged yourself to let it go and truly “feel” the puzzle? Feel free to share with a comment!