Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Recommended for day-service centers. A collection of craft ideas for April

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

April brings warmer weather and a lighter mood.

How about incorporating seasonal flowers like cherry blossoms and hyacinths, as well as spring-themed motifs, into your craft recreation activities? Participants can take their finished pieces home, so they can enjoy the feeling of spring there as well.

Craft activities that use the fingertips allow for focused engagement, which many older adults particularly enjoy.

We’ve gathered a wide range of projects—from simple to more elaborate—so please choose the ones that best suit each individual and give them a try.

Let’s all enjoy them together while communicating and connecting!

[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Services. April Craft Ideas (61–70)

Making a calendar with sakura (cherry blossom) eraser stamps

[Eraser Stamps 🌸] Making an April calendar with a cherry blossom eraser stamp 🌸 with gradient shading

Making a calendar with sakura (cherry blossom) eraser stamps

Eraser stamps are made by carving patterns into an eraser.

A carving knife is handy for the cutting, but depending on the design, you can make them with a utility knife as well.

For seniors who enjoy handmade crafts, stamp making can be a lot of fun.

Since cherry blossoms are at their best in April, let’s make a calendar by creating and stamping cherry blossoms with an eraser stamp.

Using just pink ink is fine, but it’s also lovely to change the color at the tips of the petals.

Try experimenting with how you apply the ink.

Including branches will add atmosphere and make the piece look even nicer.

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rapeseed blossoms

Easy with origami! How to fold the canola flower (blossom part) | How to fold an origami canola flower. #origami #paperfolding #flowers #paperflower

rapeseed blossoms

When March comes, you can see rapeseed blossoms blooming in fields and along riverbanks.

They’re a familiar flower to many older adults and one that heralds spring, don’t you think? A rapeseed-blossom calendar could be a lovely way to bring news of spring to seniors.

There are many ways to make rapeseed flowers, but using origami or tissue paper is recommended.

Fold yellow origami paper to make the flowers, or cut tissue paper into rapeseed shapes and stick them onto the calendar.

The bright yellow rapeseed flower carries the meanings of energy and liveliness, inspired by its appearance.

Just displaying such a calendar could help seniors feel vibrant and full of life.

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Hanging ornaments

[Easy ✨ Origami] Temari Hanging Decoration 🎎 with Plum and Cherry Blossoms 🌸 [Hinamatsuri] Just Cut and Paste 💕 100-Yen Shop • Japanese Chiyogami

Hanging ornaments

We’d like to introduce a lovely spring hanging decoration that gently sways in the breeze.

You can make it with just origami paper and string, so it’s perfect for craft activities in senior care facilities.

Prepare both solid-colored and patterned origami paper, cut three circles of each, and fold them in half.

Glue the solid and patterned halves alternately, attach them to a string, and your temari ball is finished.

Next, fold three sheets of origami paper in half vertically, stack and glue them together, then draw a pencil outline so it forms a cherry blossom shape and cut it out.

When you open it, you’ll have a symmetrical flower.

Snip small cuts into the petals to make it look like a sakura blossom, then attach it to the string to complete the piece.

Gazing at your hanging decoration while feeling the warm spring breeze is sure to bring a peaceful moment.

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Three-dimensional cherry blossom paper flower

Easy! How to Make 3D Cherry Blossom Flowers with a Craft Punch – DIY How to Make Paper Cherry Blossom Flowers with a Shape Punch

Three-dimensional cherry blossom paper flower

Using colored construction paper or TANT paper to make three-dimensional cherry blossoms can be tricky, right? For anyone who finds that difficult, try making cherry blossoms with a craft punch.

With a craft punch, you can create 3D blossoms very easily.

After punching out the cherry blossom shapes, start adding creases.

Making these creases is the key to creating dimensional flowers! Make small cuts between the petals, then use a stylus or a pencil to gently curl the petals.

Press down the center, attach beads, and your cherry blossom is complete.

They look lovely when added to message cards or colored paper.

Give it a try!

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Cherry blossom decoration made of paper

Easy Cherry Blossom Paper Decorations with a Stapler (with audio commentary)

Cherry blossom decoration made of paper

We’d like to introduce a cherry blossom craft that’s perfect as a mobile part, gently swaying indoors when hung with a string.

Prepare several sheets of construction paper cut into long, narrow rectangles.

Fold the paper and staple the ends to create cherry blossoms.

Older adults might recall past events while making these, too.

Conversations may liven up with memories of cherry-blossom viewing and stories from cherry blossom season.

Making many and decorating a wall to form a large cherry tree would also be lovely.

Try various arrangements and enjoy creating your own cherry blossom pieces.

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Tulips and butterflies

[Craft Idea] Tulip & Butterfly Quilling (April Spring) (Wall Decoration) (Elderly Recreation, Day Service, Occupational Therapy OT, Childcare, Creative Activity) (3D Decoration) (DIY)

Tulips and butterflies

This is a 3D wall decoration of tulips and butterflies made with paper quilling.

Cut two types of paper, such as red and yellow, into rectangles and apply double-sided tape to one edge.

Wrap the paper around a bamboo skewer and roll it to create quilled rings for the petals.

Arrange the parts inside each ring and glue them tightly with no gaps to complete the three-dimensional tulips.

Make the leaves with the same quilling method; giving them a gentle curl adds a soft, flowing look.

When making the butterfly, vary the colors and sizes of the wings as you quill.

For the antennae, tightly roll thin strips of paper to make them look realistic.

Because this involves many fine finger movements, it can also serve as a hand dexterity exercise for older adults.

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Dandelion wreath

Introducing how to make a three-dimensional dandelion wreath decoration with origami! Why not try making it as a spring decoration for April and May? [Tsukuru-mon]

Dandelion wreath

Spring is the season when the weather warms and many flowers begin to appear, and you’ll likely spot more dandelions as well.

This craft recreates dandelions—a quintessential spring flower—using origami and combines them into a wreath-like shape.

To make the dandelion flowers, fold a strip of origami paper in half and then fold it again to make it narrower, cut fine slits along the edge, roll it up, then spread and shape it.

The wreath base is made by assembling triangular units, and it’s recommended to use green to evoke leaves.

Finally, combine all the parts and add decorative elements like leaf pieces to complete the project.

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