Have a puzzle that’s missing pieces? Don’t toss it—instead make this easy fall craft using old puzzles (and there’s a bonus project, too).

A close-up view of several scattered jigsaw puzzle pieces on a white surface, showing both the colorful image sides and the plain cardboard backs.

As a recent participant in a puzzle competition, there’s nothing worse than a puzzle with missing pieces.

It’s so frustrating.

You work on the puzzle and it takes twice as long because the missing pieces throw you off, and you can’t find the rest of the Eiffel Tower.

So what do you do with the rest of the puzzle?

Some people donate it (which ends up being so frustrating for the next person who works on the puzzle).

Some people toss it.

Me?

I create with it.

Yep.

I took this puzzle with its leftover pieces and made two projects for fall.

Want to see what I made?

Let’s go.

A striped sign with a pumpkin shape made from orange puzzle pieces sits on a stand, surrounded by small decorative houses with thatched roofs, displayed on a marble surface.

DIY Puzzle Piece Pumpkin

supplies:

You can shop all the supplies here

thin canvas board

Folk Art paint Barn Wood

Frog Tape

leftover puzzle pieces

Aleen’s Tacky Glue

Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Cinnamon

graphite paper

branches from yard

pipe cleaners

 

spring of faux greenery

A bottle of FolkArt matte gray paint and a roll of green painter's tape sit on a surface with gray and green painted stripes.

1. Tape off canvas

Using Frog Tape, tape off stripes on canvas.

Start with pieces of tape on each of the sides (so the sides will start with the white stripe).

I taped off four stripes and painted them with the Barn Wood acrylic paint.

A close-up of a hand peeling off green painter’s tape from a surface with grey paint and a strip of bright green paint along the edge. The tape reveals a clean line between the painted and unpainted areas.

Let it dry.

Peel off tape.

A cardboard box contains a flat, reddish-brown surface shaped like interconnected jigsaw puzzle pieces. White tape is visible along the box edges. The puzzle and box appear to be made of the same cardboard material.

2. Spray paint puzzle pieces

Choose the interior pieces (so they don’t have an edge).

Flip them over on the reverse side (the back of the pieces).

Spread out the pieces so they aren’t touching.

Spray paint with Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Cinnamon.

Let dry.

A close-up of a pencil tracing the outline of a pumpkin drawing from a white paper onto a black sheet, with gray and white striped background visible underneath.

3. Trace a pumpkin outline

You could lightly sketch the outline of the pumpkin on the striped canvas.

Or you could print out a pumpkin outline and trace it onto the canvas with graphite paper.

You just need the outline, not the stem or the interior lines of the pumpkin.

Six brown puzzle pieces are arranged in a loose curve on a diagonally striped surface with alternating white and light grayish-tan bands.

4. Glue the puzzle pieces on the edge

Using Aleen’s Tacky Glue, start at one edge of the outline and glue the pieces.

Keep gluing until you have the entire perimeter of the pumpkin glued in place.

You can move the pieces around because the glue is tacky and makes the pieces easy to move until you have the exact outline of the pumpkin in place.

A pumpkin shape created from orange puzzle pieces, with twigs as the stem and green leaves at the top, displayed on a striped background.

5. Glue additional layers on the pumpkin

Keep gluing puzzle pieces in layers until the pumpkin is completely filled in.

Add a stem to the top with branches.

Wind a pipe cleaner around a pencil to create the swirly stems and glue in place with a little piece of greenery.

A striped canvas with a branch decorated with red and brown puzzle pieces, resembling autumn leaves. In front, a small model house and a wooden pepper grinder rest on a beaded mat.

DIY Puzzle Piece Tree

supplies:

You can shop all the supplies here

thin canvas board

Folk Art paint Barn Wood

Frog Tape

leftover puzzle pieces

hot glue

Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Cinnamon

Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Paprika

Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Crimson Red

branches from yard

A bottle of FolkArt matte gray paint and a roll of green painter's tape sit on a surface with gray and green painted stripes.

1. Tape off canvas

Using Frog Tape, tape off stripes on canvas.

Start with pieces of tape on each of the sides (so the sides will start with the white stripe).

I taped off four stripes and painted them with the Barn Wood acrylic paint.

A close-up of a hand peeling off green painter’s tape from a surface with grey paint and a strip of bright green paint along the edge. The tape reveals a clean line between the painted and unpainted areas.

Let it dry.

Peel off tape.

A can of brown spray paint stands on a white surface with gray stripes, next to several red puzzle pieces scattered on the stripes.

2. Spray paint puzzle pieces

Choose the interior pieces (so they don’t have an edge).

Flip them over on the reverse side (the back of the pieces).

Spread out the pieces so they aren’t touching.

Spray paint with Rustoleum Matte Spray Paint Cinnamon, Paprika, and Crimson Red.

Let dry.

A bare, branched twig is arranged vertically against a background of alternating wide beige and white stripes. The simple composition highlights the contrast between the natural twig and the geometric pattern.

3. Hot glue a branch

Hot glue a branch to the center of the canvas.

This is your base branch.

We are going to build our tree around this.

Red and orange puzzle pieces are attached to tree branches, creating a decorative arrangement against a background with vertical beige and white stripes.

4. Hot glue leaves

Hot glue the leaves onto the branches on the first layer.

Mix up the colors to create the look of fall leaves.

Turn the pieces so the tip of the piece attaches to the branch.

A group of small tree branches has red and orange puzzle pieces attached to them, creating the look of autumn leaves against a background with vertical beige and white stripes.

5. Add a layer of branches

Add another layer of branches and glue the branches into place.

Hot glue the leaves onto the extra branches.

Continue to mix up the colors to create the look of fall leaves.

A decorative branch with red puzzle pieces attached as leaves is displayed against a white and beige striped background.

Keep gluing leaves in place until the tree is finished.

Add a few extra puzzle pieces to the base of the tree.

Red jigsaw puzzle pieces scattered on a white surface with light gray vertical stripes. The pieces are randomly placed, some overlapping the stripes and others on the white background.

These puzzle pieces were once a little sad and forlorn.

Destined for the trash.

But now?

They are living their very best life and partying it up for fall.

I love a good trash-to-treasure story. How about you? 🙂

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post

Three smiling women stand together indoors by a white mantel decorated with blue and white vases, pink flowers, and creative craft using old puzzles. A pink banner across the image reads, "Sign up to become a Thistlewood & Co Insider.

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Posted On: August 13, 2025

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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Comments

  7. Image for Karen B. Karen B.

    What a fun project. You are so clever and I always come away wanting to try my hand at the same project. :-) I always find myself getting excited at the prospect of autumn's arrival. Have a great Wednesday. Karen B.

    Reply
  9. Image for Victoria Victoria

    First I thought you'd used fall leaves to create the pumpkin, but it was the puzzle pcs! But they look like fall leaves! More projects fir fall.. Very creative, thank you. And congratulations on your husband's Master degree! Wonderful!

    Reply
    1. Image for Harper Harper

      Just when I thought I had seen the best craft ideas....You my dear have gone to a new level. WOW. can't wait to try this..

      Reply
  16. Image for Lorelei Lorelei

    So cute!!! Would write more but I'm getting dressed so I can run to the store to pick up paint...gonna have a fun and crafty afternoon today.

    Reply
  20. Image for Cindy Vojanec Cindy Vojanec

    Only YOU could come up with such a clever and darling idea! Love them both about as much as I love your posts!

    Reply
  21. Image for Sue Sims Sue Sims

    OMG! I’m thinking of a four seasons puzzle “thing” with different colored leaves, and a bare one for winter!!

    Reply
  22. Image for Teddee Grace Teddee Grace

    Really cute. I couldn't decide whether I liked the pumpkin or the tree better. I Pinned this, but they are certainly making a person jump through a lot more hoops these days to do so.

    Reply
  25. Image for Judy Judy

    What a creative idea! I’m not a crafty person but it’s a great project for those that are. The pumpkin puzzle piece will look fabulous in your home! Happy Fall!

    Reply
  26. Image for Maureen Maureen

    Autumn fabulousness! Love a good project for these dog-days of summer! 19 days...and counting...good luck girls🍀

    Reply
  27. Image for Marlene Stephenson Marlene Stephenson

    Those are so cute and great for Fall. Wish I had all those missing pieces of puzzles I threw away, but I'm not talented like you, thanks I know what to do with them now!!

    Reply
  30. Image for Bea Kuchta Bea Kuchta

    KariAnne, I love these beautiful fall creations. Puzzle pieces are wonderful craft supplies. Last Spring I made something similar. My puzzle pieces were painted different shades of green, (but for a little bling, I added just a few metallic gold pieces), and I attached them to an outline of a shamrock for St Patrick's Day. I used a light weight piece of wood for the background and hung it on my front door. i just have to try another one for fall, and maybe an Easter egg one too. Oh, boy, I'm excited now. thank you.

    Reply
  31. Image for Marti Marti

    Love the puzzle pieces…..you are so creative. Bet your DIL could use those ideas in her classroom. Looking forward to your launch!

    Reply
  34. Image for Debbie Hill Debbie Hill

    What about a Christmas tree outline? You could "paint" pieces a couple of complimentary shades of green, spray paint a few gold or silver for ornaments, get your glue gun out and, Viola! A Christmas Tree! Love that you recycle so many things. Any ideas for easy Christmas gift ideas for ladies who sew?

    Reply
  36. Image for Cheryl Atkinson Cheryl Atkinson

    Hi Karianne! I love this idea so much but what I love more are those little houses in the picture. Can you tell me where you purchased them? Thank you for sharing this fun craft!

    Reply

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