Late 2021, I was increasingly more worried about my teenage daughter's pandemic-induced isolation and struggles. I wanted to do something to help her while also imparting valuable skills and life-lessons before she left for college.

Frustrated by endless Netflix evenings, I dusted off a jigsaw puzzle 🧩 and soon the whole family ended up around the kitchen table doing the puzzle together. The result was amazing, we talked more than ever, and felt MUCH less stressed than we had in months!

Inspired, I turned to the internet and discovered that there were more benefits to jigsaw puzzles than just stress relief. That's when I came up with the idea for Puzzle Tubes - small puzzles that can be completed in about an hour, perfect for people with limited time to relax and de-stress. 😌

And the best part? These little puzzles come in fun test tube 🧪 containers, so they're portable and easy to take on the go. They also require minimal space to store and can be framed in any standard 4"x6" frame. 🖼

I wanted our puzzles to be truly mind-blowing, so I worked on embedding a hidden augmented-reality experience that would amaze people as they watch the puzzle come alive in front of their eyes! 🤯

What was previously the END of the puzzle was now the BEGINNING of a new way to experience the puzzle. A little nerdy I admit, but hey, my background is Product Designer, so I was excited! 🤓

Oh, and I also designed a handy-dandy edge piece finder for the back of the puzzle. Hopefully that'll help folks find those pesky edge-pieces a little faster but only if you want the help!

And because I believe in giving back, I wanted to share revenue with our amazing artist partners, recognizing their work's value. Plus, for every order we get, we plant a tree 🌲, doing our small part for the environment. Our ambitious goal is to plant 100,000 trees. Kinda scary, but also seriously inspiring for us! 🙌

Starting this business was a learning experience for me and my daughter. She learned that with creativity and determination, anyone can start a business, and make a difference.

I love that she can take these lessons, these values, forward in her life. 💚