[For seniors] Enjoy spring: April craft ideas

Sakura Necklace

[Spring Craft] Easy Straw Sakura Necklace Tutorial [Ashitaba Channel]

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.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Sakura mochi

[Spring Origami] Easy and Cute Sakura Mochi Folding / Origami Sakura Mochi

Simply sticking origami with spring-themed motifs onto a plain calendar can instantly transform it into an exciting spring-season calendar.

Sakura mochi, a traditional Japanese sweet enjoyed when the cherry blossoms bloom, has a soft, fluffy texture that feels very spring-like and is so familiar it’s even used as a seasonal word in haiku.

Its pink color is bright and festive, so it’s highly recommended.

Both the mochi part and the leaf part have simple folding methods, so you can try them casually.

For the leaf, use slightly muted green origami to create the right atmosphere.

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hiyori

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plum blossoms

[Origami] Easy! How to fold a plum blossom / origami ume

Plum blossoms have single flowers with five petals, and there are also double-flowering varieties.

They come in red, pink, and white, and they bloom beautifully in spring.

The scent of plum blossoms is similar to jasmine—sweet and gentle, and very soothing.

Their flower language means “beauty and longevity,” which makes it a lovely phrase for older adults.

This time, let’s make plum blossoms with origami.

Just fold and cut the paper, and when you open it up—your plum blossom is complete.

Try making them in a variety of colors!

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Nanaka

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Wreath of daffodils and roses

[Origami] Daffodil and Rose Wreath

Daffodils bloom until early spring, and roses bloom around late spring, so even though their seasons are offset, both can be said to be representative spring flowers.

This is a simple yet dimensional wreath with a glamorous look that combines daffodils and roses.

Another key point is that the wreath base and stem parts are kept flat, which helps emphasize the three-dimensionality of the daffodil and rose blossoms.

For each flower, it’s important to deliberately add fine creases, cuts, and bends, and to shape them carefully so that a sense of depth and volume comes through.

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kappamaki

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cherry blossoms in full bloom

Easy paper cherry blossom wall decoration: let's make it and display it! #crafts #handmade

What comes to mind when you think of spring? If you’re a fan of parties, perhaps cherry-blossom viewing pops into your head.

In that case, here’s a way to enjoy hanami even on rainy days: decorate a wall with a cascade of cherry blossoms to create the atmosphere indoors.

For the basic tree trunk, it’s best to make it thick using something like cardboard.

For the leaves and flowers, don’t just stick them on flat—try making them three-dimensional, like origami.

The wall decoration will brighten up the space around it.

There are several ways to fold the flowers, so try searching video sites for tutorials!

Three-dimensional wisteria flowers

Origami Wisteria Flowers 3D Folding Tutorial (niceno1)

How about making wisteria flowers out of origami and attaching them to colored construction paper for a three-dimensional decoration? Using various colors of origami paper—pink, blue, purple, and more—makes it vibrant and visually delightful.

Each fold is simple, like folding into triangles or squares.

It’s also nice that you don’t need scissors; just origami paper and glue will do.

There are many steps where you crease and then unfold once, but they’re essential for creating three-dimensional petals, so take your time and fold carefully.

These wisteria flowers have a simple, handmade charm and are especially recommended for those who are good at detailed work!

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hiyori

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Three-dimensional origami iris

Paper Iris Tutorial: How to Make an Iris (Ayame)

We’d like to introduce an origami craft featuring a beautiful three-dimensional iris.

You’ll need green washi paper, craft wire, and purple origami paper.

First, make the flower.

Fold the origami paper vertically, horizontally, and diagonally to create crease lines.

Fold along these lines to collapse the paper, then fold and open each edge one by one.

Once the shape is set, gently open it while curving with your fingertips to form the flower.

Next, make the stem.

Apply glue to the washi paper and attach the wire and the flower together.

For the leaves, cut the washi into long, narrow strips and neaten the top edges.

When everything is ready, arrange the flower and leaves in a vase.

You’ll be pleased with a result that hardly looks like it was made from origami.

The fingerwork involved and the task of arranging with an eye for balance can also be expected to help prevent cognitive decline.