Lovely senior life

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

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Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Here are some craft ideas perfect for autumn, recommended for seniors!

From projects that capture the colors and spirit of fall to crafts that inspire a touch of nostalgia, this collection is full of simple, enjoyable ideas tailored for older adults.

If you’re planning daily recreation activities at a day service or care facility, or you’re simply looking for autumn crafts, feel free to use these as inspiration.

Most projects avoid fine motor tasks and focus on easy steps like rolling and gluing, so seniors are sure to enjoy them!

[For Seniors] Simple Crafts to Feel Autumn: Fun Creative Activities (231–240)

scarecrow

Scarecrow Crafts ~crafts of Scarecrows~ (with templates) (September/October) (Autumn) (Easy Crafts) (Senior Recreation/Day Service) (Wall Decorations) (Creative Occupational Therapy) (Childcare/Educational) (Origami)

scarecrow

In November, during the harvest season, scarecrows are indispensable.

Many older folks might find them nostalgic.

This scarecrow uses origami for the hat, kimono, and frame, while the head is made by rolling up B5 paper to give it a three-dimensional look.

It can be used as part of a wall decoration, and if you reinforce the frame with bamboo skewers or similar, you might even be able to stick it into a potted houseplant.

Making scarecrows and placing them in various spots adds a seasonal touch, and it could be fun to turn it into a little game of finding the small scarecrows.

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spinning bagworm

[Craft Idea] Spinning Bagworm ~craft~ (November Autumn) (Wall Decorations) (Senior Recreation/Day Service) (Childcare/Educational) (Origami) (Creative/Psychiatric OT) (Insects/Easy) (Hanging Ornament) (DIY)

spinning bagworm

This is a “twirly bagworm” made with origami.

Since you don’t fold it and instead use scissors and glue, it’s a craft activity that seniors can easily join.

Cut a sheet of origami paper in half, overlap the edges of the two pieces to form a long rectangle, and glue them together.

Place the paper horizontally, apply glue to the top and bottom edges, and stick them together.

This will create a rounded tunnel at the bottom.

Cut that rounded section into strips about 5 mm wide from one side to the other.

Be sure to leave a little uncut at the top so the paper doesn’t fall apart.

Apply glue to the uncut strip, then roll the piece diagonally and glue it down to finish.

Perfect for autumn wall decorations.

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sweet potato

Crafts: Harvesting sweet potatoes (October, autumn) (senior recreation/daycare) (wall decorations) (early childhood education) (creative occupational therapy) (seasonal crafts) (easy) (DIY)

sweet potato

Let’s make autumn’s delicious treat, the sweet potato, out of origami—perfect for wall decorations or as props for recreational activities.

We’ll create three parts: the root, the leaf, and the vine.

Since the leaf requires finer work, it may be better for older adults to make the root (the sweet potato itself) and the vine.

Crumple scrap paper and shape it to look like a sweet potato.

Then take red-purple craft paper, soften it by crumpling it, and wrap it around the form, gluing it down from the top to finish the sweet potato.

For the vine, cut green paper into narrow strips, roll them up to make them like paper cords, and shape them.

After thinning the strip, wrap it once around a toothpick to give it a vine-like curl.

Instead of digging up sweet potatoes, try making them and enjoy the feeling of autumn!

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fabric wreath

[Tsuruse] Is this fabric wreath a yes or a no?

fabric wreath

A “fabric wreath” that you can make simply by poking fabric scraps into a Styrofoam wreath sold at 100-yen shops using a bamboo skewer.

This activity is accessible even for people who can only use one hand, so please enjoy it together.

Cut the fabric scraps into 5 cm squares beforehand.

Using a bamboo skewer of the type used for knitting needles makes it safer.

If you prepare several autumn-colored fabrics, the wreath will look more festive, and each maker’s originality will shine through.

It also sounds nice to use autumn flowers as the theme.

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persimmon tree

[Craft Idea] Persimmon Craft (with template) (October/Autumn) (wall decoration craft) (senior recreation) (early childhood/educational) (fruit) (creative OT/psychiatry) (DIY) (origami) (easy)

persimmon tree

Let’s make a “persimmon,” a fruit that makes you feel the autumn season, using newspaper, origami paper, and construction paper! For the fruit, crumple newspaper into a ball the size of a persimmon, then cover it with orange origami paper that you’ve softened by crumpling to add wrinkles.

For the calyx, cut green origami paper into the right shape, and roll a strip of brown origami paper into a thin tube for the stem—then glue them on.

It’s easy to make! You can use it as a wall decoration, or simply place a few in a basket on a shelf to bring a touch of autumn to your space.

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Lampshade made of paper

[100-Yen Shop DIY] Paper Lamp Shade

Lampshade made of paper

Why not try making a lampshade inspired by seasonal flowers? A lampshade is a shade that covers a lamp or bulb, and the materials and designs you use can create many different kinds of light.

This time, let’s make one using shoji paper and washi.

Tear the shoji paper and washi, or fold them into flower shapes and cut them out in advance.

Dilute craft glue with water and brush it onto an inflated balloon.

The key is to apply the glue over an area that matches the size of the shoji paper you’ll attach.

Once you’ve covered the entire surface with shoji paper, add the flower pieces made from washi.

Finally, coat the entire surface with the diluted glue, let it dry, and then pop the balloon.

You’ll have a beautiful spherical lampshade.

It’s also nice to place a dollar-store LED light inside for display.

Seniors are likely to be very pleased with such a lovely creation.

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Maple leaf paper cutout

Autumn origami kirie [Origami]: Quickly make a maple leaf in just 1 minute! Great for beginners at paper cutting. Create it while watching the video.

Maple leaf paper cutout

Papercutting that makes your heart race when it’s finished, and the moment you open it is fun.

How about trying a papercut in the shape of a maple leaf? You can make it with any way of folding and cutting, so with a little creativity you can enjoy many different designs.

Fold it firmly with the colored side facing inward, and draw lines on the white side to match the image you want to cut out.

Be careful—it’s delicate work—so watch your fingers with the scissors, and make sure not to cut through the connecting parts.

Paste your papercut on construction paper or hang it on the wall and enjoy.

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