[For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity

Moon-viewing dumplings

[Cute Origami] How to Fold Tsukimi Dango (Origami no Jikan)

During the moon-viewing season in September, some households knead dango flour and offer rice dumplings.

Since ready-made ones are widely available these days, perhaps making them at home has become less common.

Older adults may also have made dumplings and celebrated the Harvest Moon with their families.

Let’s try making rice dumplings out of origami that you can display on a September calendar.

We’ll fold the dumplings, a sheet of hanshi (thin paper), and a sanpō (offering stand).

By placing the dumplings on the sanpō, the piece will look even more realistic.

Through creating this craft, older adults might share stories about moon-viewing festivals they spent with their families.

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Nakajima Junko

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raccoon dog

[One Sheet of Origami] Easy and Cute Mini Raccoon Dog (Tanuki) Folding Method (Step-by-Step Guide)

The moon and tanuki are said to be closely connected.

It’s believed that tanuki gather on moonlit nights, drumming on their bellies like taiko and dancing.

On the night of the harvest moon, when offerings like rice dumplings and taro are placed out, you might even hear their lively dance.

Try incorporating tanuki into your September calendar craft—fold a tanuki with origami and paste it onto the calendar as decoration.

As you work, some older adults may be reminded of the children’s song “Shōjōji no Tanukibayashi.”

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Nakajima Junko

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Origami Owl

[Origami] How to fold an owl / How to make origami “owl.”

It would be lovely to attach an origami owl—appearing on cool, quiet autumn nights—to your November calendar.

For the owl’s wings, using stickers or colored pens to draw in the details will add a sense of depth.

You might also set a nighttime background and draw stars and the moon before adding the owl illustration.

We recommend making the owl with brown or orange origami paper.

Give it a try and create a beautiful November calendar!

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mayumi

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origami maple leaf

Here’s an idea for making “fallen leaf origami” from a single sheet of paper.

By changing the size of the paper, you can create leaves in various sizes, giving a natural sense of depth and dimension.

Use colors like red, brown, and yellow, and layer multiple leaves to enhance the three-dimensional look and make them appear more realistic.

If you cover an entire calendar page with them, a vivid autumn scene will unfold, gently brightening your room.

It’s also good exercise for the fingers, making it an enjoyable project for older adults.

Give it a try!

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kojifumi

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Ginkgo origami

[Autumn Origami] The Easiest Ginkgo Leaf Folding Method | Origami Easy Ginkgo Leaf Paper Craft | Fallen Leaves [Easy Autumn Paper Folding] Ginkgo Leaf Origami

November is a beautiful season when ginkgo leaves turn golden.

As the landscape’s colors calm down toward winter, the ginkgo’s golden hue catches the eye and makes you stop to admire it.

Ginkgo leaves are perfect as a calendar motif, too! You could depict an avenue of ginkgo trees like a tunnel, or cover the entire design area with ginkgo leaves.

Since ginkgo leaves can be made with origami, if you’re not confident in drawing, why not give that a try?

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sasashina

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Rabbit making mochi

[Moon-Viewing Origami] How to Fold Rabbits Pounding Mochi 2 (Origami no Jikan)

As in the children’s song “Usagi,” which celebrates the night of the mid-autumn full moon in September, moon viewing is often associated with rabbits.

Indeed, the patterns on the full moon’s surface look like a rabbit pounding rice cakes.

Let’s try making a September calendar featuring an origami design of a rabbit pounding mochi.

Even older adults are likely to smile as they create these cute rabbit origami pieces.

You might also enjoy lively conversations about moon viewing while you work.

It’s also recommended to craft the full moon, pampas grass, and more with origami and paste them onto the calendar.

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Nakajima Junko

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bat

[Halloween Origami] Easy and Cute Bat Folding with One Sheet of Origami / Origami Bat

Here are some slightly spooky yet fun “bat” decoration ideas that are perfect for Halloween.

Fold bats with outstretched wings using origami paper in colors like black, gray, and purple—the different colors give each bat its own personality, making your calendar vibrant and lively.

Arrange them as if they’re flying to add a sense of motion, and consider adding a night sky or moon as a background.

The shapes are simple, so they’re easy for older adults to try as well, resulting in a Halloween-themed craft that balances seasonal flair with playfulness.

Give it a try!

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kojifumi

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