[For seniors] Enjoy spring: April craft ideas
As spring arrives and the weather warms, colorful flowers bloom and we feel lighthearted.
We’d love for older adults—who often find it difficult to go out—to enjoy the cheerful spring atmosphere too.
In this article, we introduce craft ideas recommended for April.
We’ve prepared projects ranging from simple steps like folding origami and tearing paper to slightly more complex tasks like cutting predetermined shapes with scissors.
Please adjust the difficulty level to suit the older adults who will be doing the crafts.
Using the fingertips helps stimulate the brain, and completing a project can bring a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Let’s bring a touch of spring into craft recreation activities.
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- [For Seniors] Have Fun Making Things Based on Today’s Mood! Today’s Recommended Craft
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Arrival of Spring Indoors! Recommended April Origami
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Cherry Blossoms Indoors: Wall Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] March Origami: Ideas to Brighten Your Room with Seasonal Flowers and Events
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[For Seniors] Enjoy Spring: April Craft Ideas (151–160)
Wisteria flowers made with origami and 100-yen shop construction paper
How about making a dazzling wisteria decoration using lilac origami paper and craft paper from the 100-yen shop? First, cut the origami sheet in half.
With the white side facing up, fold it small, cut it into a half-circle, then trim it to refine the shape.
When you unfold it, each piece takes on a beautifully realistic petal shape.
Combine these with long, thin strips of yellow-green craft paper to form cascading wisteria clusters.
If you also make leaves from green craft paper, the result will rival the real thing.
Put the finished piece on the wall, and it will feel like spring has breezed into your room.
Spring floral arrangement
Here’s a frame arrangement using materials you can get at a 100-yen shop.
Display it by your front door or in a room to easily bring a sense of spring.
All you need is a frame and artificial flowers.
First, remove the back panel of the frame and check the size.
When attaching the artificial flowers to the back panel, be careful not to let them overlap the edges, or the frame won’t close.
Decide on a layout with a focal flower in the center and surrounding flowers, then trim the stems and attach them slightly inward so the back can close.
If you can close it without crushing the flowers, you’re done.
The steps are simple, making it a great activity for recreation in senior facilities as well.
Spring wildflowers
Let’s create a spring-themed floral mural to bring a touch of spring to your room.
You can easily make it using colored paper sold at 100-yen shops.
Since the sheets are large as-is, cut them into quarter size, and even into quarters again if needed.
For clovers, fold the paper into eighths, draw the lines, and cut along them to finish.
For five-petal flowers like cherry blossoms or pansies, you can fold at about two-thirds of the edge to get a nice shape.
Alternatively, make a six-petal flower first, then cut a slit and overlap the petals to turn it into a five-petal flower for a more three-dimensional look.
Finally, use a large sheet of colored construction paper as the base and attach the flowers and leaves you’ve made to complete your mural.
cherry blossom arch window
These days, many homes are being built with smaller windows for security reasons.
From a safety perspective, that’s understandable to an extent.
How about your home? If you have a plain, empty wall, why not create a “cherry blossom arch window” that looks like a real window there? Imagine stained glass in a church, but made with colored paper.
Use light blue for the window to evoke the color of the sky, and decorate each pane with cherry blossoms in your own style.
Origami works, paper cutouts work—there’s no one right way.
A variety of cherry blossoms would be lovely.
Cherry blossom corsage
Let’s make a small, cute cherry blossom corsage.
This one is made with felt, and since you can assemble it without sewing, it’s great for recreational activities for seniors.
Cut small pieces of felt and make slits to form the cherry blossom petals.
Attach wire to flower stamens (flower peps), then secure them to the petals.
Use a glue gun to shape the flower so it looks three-dimensional.
Make the calyx with green felt and wrap brown floral tape around the wire.
Bundle several cherry blossoms made in the same way to complete the piece.
It’s a perfect motif for the cherry blossom season, as well as entrance and graduation ceremonies.
It would also make a delightful gift for a grandchild.
Try making this piece and give it to someone special.
Collage of cherry blossoms
Why not feel the arrival of spring with a cherry blossom collage? Prepare a sheet of stiff black cardstock and cut it in half.
Use a cherry blossom craft punch to cut designs from patterned paper or origami, making lots of blossoms.
Draw the tree trunk on the black cardstock with a white colored pencil, then glue on the blossoms.
Layer them so they overlap and fill in the gaps.
When applying glue, don’t coat the entire piece—apply it only to part of each blossom and attach it lightly to create a three-dimensional effect.
The contrast of vivid blossoms against the black cardstock makes for a beautiful piece.
Because it uses fine finger movements, it’s great for finger dexterity training for seniors.
Consider incorporating it into craft recreation activities at senior care facilities.
[For Seniors] Enjoy Spring: April Craft Ideas (161–170)
Sakura Necklace
Let’s make a cute cherry blossom necklace using straws and origami.
First, divide a sheet of origami paper into four equal squares, then fold each one into five sections to create cherry blossoms.
Once you learn this method, it’s handy for easily making stars and flowers too.
Next, add leaves made from origami, punch a hole in the center, prepare some thread, and string them in the order of a short piece of straw, a flower, a straw, and a flower.
Threading straws onto the string is also great for fine motor rehabilitation, so I highly recommend it.
It also makes a lovely room decoration.