[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!
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Respect for the Aged Day: With heartfelt gratitude — Handmade gift ideas that will delight residents in senior care facilities (41–50)
Japanese-style card made with 100-yen shop materials
Let’s make a lovely handmade birthday card using materials you can get at a 100-yen shop.
Prepare your choice of stick-on chirimen fabric or stickers and masking tape with patterns you like.
For the message card holder, use gold-colored construction paper.
Cut it to the shape of the message card and apply fabric tape.
Trim off any excess with scissors.
Using white construction paper, make a message card one size smaller than the card holder.
It looks cute if you punch out the four corners with a flower-shaped punch.
Use the punched-out flowers to decorate the card holder.
Cards with traditional Japanese patterns for a mature look are wonderful, but you can also go for a pop style or a cute vibe—feel free to arrange it to your taste and have fun!
Respect for the Aged Day: With gratitude—handmade gift ideas that will delight residents in elderly care facilities (51–60)
flower card
Let’s celebrate a birthday with a floral card.
Fold and cut origami paper to create flower shapes.
By changing the fold lines and cutting positions, you can make flowers in different sizes.
Using patterned origami paper makes it look even more beautiful.
Stack three to five origami flowers from largest to smallest, and write a message in the center of the top flower.
As each petal is opened one by one, a heartfelt message is revealed.
Older adults may also feel excited, wondering, “What will appear when I open the petals?” It’s also fun that the mood changes depending on the colors and patterns of the origami you use.
Masking tape ideas
A heartfelt handmade birthday card is something that makes anyone happy to receive.
But when it comes time to make one, it can feel difficult and you might not know where to start.
For those people, I recommend this simple birthday card made with washi (masking) tape.
It introduces lots of ideas, like making a frame by outlining with thin tape, twisting tape to create a ribbon, or using twine to craft a garland.
They’re all very easy to make and turn out cute, so they’re easy to try.
Why not give it a go for a loved one’s birthday?
Simple Mechanism Card
This card is packed with three-dimensional mechanisms: even before you open it, a 3D bouquet motif is set up, and when you fully open it, the message also pops up in three dimensions.
You layer origami on the base and build the mechanisms from there, and small touches—like intentionally leaving a bit of slack at the folds or arranging decorations to overlap—enhance the sense of depth.
A key point is assembling the whole piece while being mindful of how thickly you layer the messages and decorations.
By designing it so you flip through it multiple times before reaching the final message, you can give the recipient the excitement of wondering what surprise awaits next.
Balloons and Presents
The sight of colorful balloons soaring into the sky gives off a fresh, happy vibe, doesn’t it? This three-dimensional birthday card focuses on that cheerful balloon atmosphere, combining motifs of balloons and gifts.
Create depth by assembling balloons from halves folded and joined together, and by attaching the gift in the center of the card.
By designing it so that balloons and a message pop out from the gift, you can clearly convey an image of happiness bursting forth.
bracelet
Are you familiar with kumihimo? Some of you might know it from the film “Your Name.” Kumihimo are braids made by interlacing fine silk or cotton threads, and they’re considered a traditional Japanese craft.
Although they may look complicated in person, there’s a simple way to make them.
Prepare a round piece of cardboard with eight notches around the edge and a hole in the center.
Thread seven strands of yarn in different colors through the center hole.
Place one strand in each notch, leaving one notch empty, and then braid by moving the strands one by one into the empty notch.
The finished cord can be used as a bracelet, or reshaped into a strap.
The steps are easy to follow, so it’s said to be a craft that older adults can comfortably enjoy making.
bookmark
For those who love reading, how about giving them a handmade bookmark? If you fold one from pretty wrapping paper or origami, it can be finished in just a few minutes.
If it’s a gift for someone who loves flowers, laminating pressed flowers or paper flowers made from origami is also a great idea! You could also use a memorable photo or create a torn-paper collage style—there are so many variations to consider.
As you make it, think of the recipient and put your heart into it.
