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[Respect for the Aged Day] With heartfelt gratitude: Handmade gift ideas that will delight residents in senior care facilities
You want to add a handmade touch to your Respect for the Aged Day gifts, don’t you? Thoughtful presents made in a care facility can become special gifts that bring smiles to seniors’ faces.
This time, we’re introducing handmade gift ideas that are easy to incorporate in senior facilities and can be made using scrap materials or items from 100-yen shops.
From practical items like pouches and coasters made with fabric remnants, or memo stands made with chenille stems (pipe cleaners) shaped into flowers, to heartfelt message cards that are perfect for conveying your feelings—we’ve got plenty of lovely ideas.
Imagine the smiles of the seniors as you take on the challenge of making something by hand!
Respect for the Aged Day: With heartfelt gratitude. Handmade gift ideas that will delight residents in senior care facilities (1–10)
fabric keychain
How about this keychain that you can make using just a swivel snap hook from Seria and fabric scraps? You really only need tiny pieces of fabric, so making it from scraps of clothes that your grandparents no longer wear could turn it into a keepsake full of memories.
First, prepare a 6 cm × 9 cm scrap of fabric.
Fold it into quarters, sew along the edge, then turn it right side out and press it well with an iron.
Thread it through the swivel hook, fold back about 1.5 cm, stitch it in place, and you’re done.
It’s very easy, so give it a try!
Omamori strap
Let’s make amulet-style straps to wish for our grandparents’ health and safety.
Receiving a gift like this might make them feel truly loved and very happy.
It’s easy, so give it a try.
First, cut a card case into an amulet shape and prepare a ribbon of the same width.
Add glitter to the ribbon and attach the card case with a glue gun.
Add ribbon and pearls, then attach a strap to finish.
You could also consider making an amulet with an AirTag attached to help keep track of their location and safety.
Japanese-pattern card
How about making a handmade card with traditional Japanese patterns to express your feelings of “Thank you always” and “Stay healthy and live a long life”? Store-bought cards are nice, but something handmade will surely be appreciated even more.
Try combining beautiful washi-patterned origami, or create a Japanese-style pattern by layering different colors of origami.
Don’t forget to include a space for your message! It might also be nice to write it with a brush pen, doing your best to use a font that feels traditionally Japanese.
Convey your feelings with an original, lovely card.
A small bag made from scrap materials
Let’s make use of milk cartons! Here are some ideas for small bags made from scrap materials.
Many people probably throw milk cartons away after using them, right? This time, why not try making a bag using that kind of waste material? You’ll need scissors, tape, fabric scraps, and double-sided fabric tape, among other things.
The look changes depending on the fabric’s design and texture, which is really fun.
The time you spend making it to suit the recipient’s taste could become a memory in itself.
candy bouquet
This is a candy bouquet you can make using sweets that grandparents love.
It’s easy on the budget, yet it makes the recipient feel very happy.
The method is simple: tape larger candies to straws, and for smaller candies like hard candy, put them in clear bags, seal the bags, and insert a straw into each.
Bundle them together with flowers and wrap with a wrapping sheet to finish.
They’ll also enjoy displaying it and snacking on their favorite treats little by little.
Keyed frame
This key-hanging frame is perfect for grandparents who are always searching all over for that key, wondering where they put it.
Its cute design makes it nice to keep by the front door, so they’ll likely enjoy using it.
First, prepare some chenille stems (pipe cleaners) and a photo frame from the 100-yen shop.
Roll the pipe cleaners into spirals to make a dog’s head, nose, and paws.
Once you’ve made them, attach them to the lower part of the photo frame.
Then stick some hooks—also from the 100-yen shop—in the empty space at the top, and you’re done.
Fukumamori
Because the Japanese word for owl, fukurou, can be written with homophones meaning “no hardship” (不苦労), owls are regarded as good-luck charms.
Let’s try making a talisman featuring a lucky owl motif.
Use felt for the owl’s body and buttons to create its distinctive eyes.
You can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop, so it’s easy to make.
If you also use Japanese-patterned fabric, it will look even more like a traditional amulet.
The steps are mostly simple, so it should be easy for seniors to make as well.
Since it’s a talisman, you can take it home and display it in your room or attach it to a bag.
By the way, fukurou can also be written as 福老, meaning “to grow old with good fortune,” making it a great gift for older adults.
