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

Making a dandelion calendar

April Calendar Making 🗓️ Magokoro no Kōbōan

In April, you can sometimes find fields and parks filled with lots of small, yellow dandelion flowers.

Just looking at them makes you feel the warm, cozy spring weather.

Let’s add some handmade dandelions to an April calendar.

You can make them by accordion-folding and cutting construction paper or using origami.

Creating a calendar with a dandelion coloring page would be lovely, too.

Since you can do the craft while seated at a table, it encourages conversation with those around you and helps promote communication.

It’s also nice that you can display the finished calendar at home.

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Nakajima Junko

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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]

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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kappamaki

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Art box

How to Make an Art Box (Monthly Day, January 2022 issue) #dayservice #daycare #outpatientrehab #nursingcare #seniors #crafts #recycledmaterials

Here’s an art box you can enjoy with colorful patterns when placed by a window or in sunlight.

Slice an empty milk carton into rings about 2 centimeters thick and turn them inside out.

Attach tissue paper to one cut edge on one side.

Cut several strips of origami paper, fold or bend them into shapes you like, and glue the tips in place.

Fill the milk carton box with lots of the shaped origami pieces.

Finish by attaching tissue paper to the milk carton’s cut edge.

The fine work of folding origami uses your fingers a lot, so it may also be effective as brain training.

Please place it near a window at the homes of older adults and use it as a decoration.

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Nakajima Junko

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clover

(Origami / copy paper) Easy! How to make a clover [DIY]

Here’s how to make an easy and cute clover.

A craft punch that cuts paper into heart shapes makes it go faster, but you can use scissors too.

Prepare two sheets of green paper—one dark and one light—and cut out heart shapes.

Layer the leaves with a piece of wire sandwiched between them, and glue them together.

Make several of these.

Bend the leaves, bundle them, and wrap them with green floral tape to form three-leaf or four-leaf clovers.

Pour pebbles or beads into a small container and insert the clovers to enjoy them like houseplants.

Since it’s safe to make, it’s also recommended as a recreation activity in senior facilities.

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kojifumi

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Cactus and flowers

[Origami] How to fold a cute cactus and flower – easy origami flower

A cactus characterized by prickly spines.

Cacti also bloom in a variety of colors, such as red, yellow, and white.

It varies by species, but they mainly flower from early spring to around summer.

Some older adults may also be growing cacti at home.

Let’s make a potted, flowering cactus out of origami that you can display at home.

Fold along the creases you’ve made to create the pot.

Use accordion folds to add creases, shape, and form the cactus.

Fold a triangle three times, cut off the excess, and make the cactus flower.

Put all the parts together to finish.

Real cacti have flowers in many different colors.

With your origami piece, try making the flowers in whatever colors you like.

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Nakajima Junko

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Bee

[Origami] Easy and Cute Bee Folding Tutorial / Origami Bee Honeybee Insect Spring Origami

April, when we can feel the warmth, is also the time when insects become active.

It’s a season when many flowers bloom, so you’ll often see bees flying around fields and meadows.

Bees can seem scary because they sting, but how about cute honeybees? Some older adults might enjoy folding them with origami.

We’ll fold the face and body using separate sheets of paper.

Giving the overall shape a round look will make the piece feel cuter.

Add antennae and wings, and don’t forget to draw the black stripes that are characteristic of bees.

You can display it on the wall together with flower crafts, or attach it to other pieces like a wreath—both are recommended.

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Nakajima Junko

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tricolor dango

[Origami] Dango — Origami English Subtitles

In spring, many people enjoy hanami, viewing the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Since it’s also an easy season for older adults to go out, some may enjoy flower viewing as well.

Speaking of hanami, sanshoku dango (three-colored dumplings) are a must-have treat.

Let’s make spring-like sanshoku dango out of origami.

Use three colors of origami paper to make balloon shapes and skewer them with a bamboo stick.

That’s it—finished.

By the way, it’s said that the order of the dango colors corresponds to the order in which cherry blossoms bloom: from the top, pink for the buds, white for full bloom, and green for the leafing stage.

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