I love all kinds of puzzles, so of course creating a DIY puzzle is one of my favorite crafts. This DIY rainbow puzzle is a wonderful and educational activity that your kids will absolutely love.
This easy project features a vibrant rainbow heart design, perfect for teaching colors, boosting logic and cognitive skills, and providing endless fun. But you can easily customize the design to any shape your child prefers, if you want to mix things up (a rainbow star, square or circle all work really well)
This activity is fantastic for several reasons. First, it helps kids learn to recognize and differentiate between colors. It’s also great for enhancing problem-solving and logical thinking.
Plus, the process of cutting and assembling the pieces helps improve their fine motor skills. And let’s not forget the creative fun – kids can really express themselves through the design and coloring process.
To get started, you’ll need a few materials: two layers of sturdy cardboard, colored markers or paints, a craft knife (with adult supervision), glue or double sided tape, a pencil, and a ruler.
Begin by preparing the card board. Choose a sturdy piece for durability, as you’ll need two layers: one for the puzzle pieces and one for the backing.
On the top layer, draw a large heart shape with a pencil. If you’re like me and prefer perfect symmetry, you can use a template.
Next, it’s time to create the rainbow design. Inside the heart, draw curved lines to create sections, each of which will be a different color of the rainbow.
Use a ruler if you want even sections. Then, grab your colored markers or paints and fill in each section with the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. You can add more sections if you want gradients, like both light green and dark green.
Once the colors are dry, it’s time to cut the puzzle pieces. If you’ve used felt tip pens or markers, then you won’t need any drying time at all.
Use a pencil to draw lines where you will cut the heart into puzzle pieces. Make sure the pieces are of various shapes and sizes to add a bit of a challenge. Carefully cut along the lines with a craft knife – remember, an adult should handle this part due to the sharp blade. After cutting, you’ll have the puzzle pieces and the frame.
To assemble the puzzle, glue the outer edge of the heart (the frame) to the second layer of cardboard. This will hold the puzzle pieces in place. Then, fit the cut-out pieces back into the heart-shaped frame, creating your puzzle.
Now, it’s time to play and learn with your new DIY cardboard puzzle game! Let your kids assemble and disassemble the puzzle, which will help them learn color recognition and improve their cognitive skills.
You can also try different shapes like stars, circles, or even animals for variety. Customize the puzzle with themes if you like.
For an educational twist, write numbers or letters in each section to incorporate additional learning elements into the puzzle.
This activity is fun for kids of all ages – simply adjust the admout of pieces in your jigsaw puzzle to keep it developmentally appropriate.
Related: Puzzle Age Guide: How Many Pieces for 1-10 Year Old Kids?
My kids may not be ready to join me on my 1000 piece puzzles, but we can definitely have a lot of fun with some simple homemade cardboard puzzles like these. And once you’ve made it, just store all the cardboard puzzle pieces in a big ziplock bag or in a tray, and you can use and re-use your puzzle rainbow as many times as you like.
Creating a DIY rainbow heart puzzle is not only a great way to engage your children in a fun and educational activity, but it also promotes learning through play. It helps kids develop essential skills while enjoying the creative process.
With endless possibilities for customization, this activity can be adapted to suit any child’s interests and learning needs.
So gather your materials and get started on this colorful, heartwarming project today! Here’s a simple step by step that you can use to follow along if needed.
Simple Step by Step to make a DIY Cardboard Puzzle
Get ready for a burst of color and fun with this DIY Rainbow Heart Puzzle! This crafty project is perfect for little hands and curious minds, combining creativity, color learning, and cognitive skills all in one delightful activity. Let's make some magic!
Materials
- Two layers of cardboard
- Colored markers or paints
- Craft knife (adult supervision required)
- Glue or double sided tape
- Pencil
- Ruler
Tools
- Craft knife
Instructions
- Select the Cardboard: Choose sturdy cardboard for durability. You'll need two layers: one for the puzzle pieces and one for the backing.
- Draw the Shape: On the top layer, draw a large heart shape using a pencil. You can use a template if you prefer perfect symmetry.
- Draw Sections: Inside the heart, draw curved lines to create sections that will each be a different color of the rainbow.
- Color the Sections: Use colored markers or paints to color each section of the heart in rainbow colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Mark the Pieces: Once the colors are dry, use a pencil to draw lines where you will cut the heart into puzzle pieces. Make sure the pieces are of various shapes and sizes for added challenge.
- Cut the Pieces: Carefully cut along the lines using a craft knife. Ensure an adult handles this part due to the sharp blade.
- Create the Frame: Cut along the outer edge of the heart shape, leaving the frame intact.
- Assemble the Puzzle - Attach the Bottom Layer: Glue the outer edge of the heart (the frame) to the second layer of cardboard. This will hold the puzzle pieces in place.
- Fit the Pieces: Place the cut-out pieces back into the heart-shaped frame, creating the puzzle.
- Enjoy! Play and Learn: Let the kids assemble and disassemble the puzzle, helping them learn color recognition and improve their cognitive skills.
More Puzzles for Kids
If your kids enjoyed making the rainbow heart puzzle, they’ll love these other creative and educational puzzle ideas!
Check out our related links for more fun projects that will keep your little ones engaged and learning.
- DIY shape puzzle
- Homemade puzzle for shadow matching
- DIY Nature puzzle
- Printable puzzles for kids
- Paper shapes puzzle
- Cardboard Rice Puzzle
- Star Color Match Puzzle
- Escape Room Puzzles for Kids
More Rainbow Activities for Kids
If your kids loved the rainbow theme of this activity, they’ll be thrilled with these additional rainbow-themed crafts and ideas! Enjoy a whole world of colorful fun and learning with these engaging projects that celebrate the vibrant spectrum of the rainbow.
- Rainbow Butterfly Windsock Craft
- Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin
- Rainbow Sun Catcher Shadow Art
- Rainbow Heart Handprint Pride Craft
- Crayon Resist Water Color Paper Plate Rainbow Craft
- Rainbow Heart Perler Bead Patterns (Free Printable)
Don’t forget to share this blog post with other parents and caregivers who are looking for exciting activities to do with their kids. Together, we can inspire more creative play and learning!
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.