[Day Service] Handmade Autumn Crafts: Take-Home Project Ideas
As the weather turns chilly, this time of year is also known as the season of art, and many older adults may feel inspired to make things.
In this article, we’ll introduce craft ideas that are perfect for autumn.
The ideas featured here can be enjoyed as seasonal decorations or home interiors, making them great for recreational activities at day service centers, too.
After you’ve made them, be sure to take them home and enjoy the autumn atmosphere there as well.
They also make wonderful gifts for family and friends.
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[Day Service] Handmade Works for Autumn: Craft Ideas You Can Take Home (91–100)
Autumn leaves and ginkgo
Here’s an idea for making 3D maple leaves using accordion-folded origami.
First fold the paper into a triangle, then accordion-fold the triangle.
Open it up, fold in half, and cut it into a triangle shape.
For the other pieces, cut them into triangles as well, reducing one or two folds each time so they gradually get smaller.
Fold each piece firmly into a triangle, fold in half, and glue—this creates a maple leaf shape! Try combining large and small pieces and pasting them together.
You can use the same accordion-fold method to make ginkgo leaves, too—perfect for autumn crafts or wall decorations.
Autumn Foliage Mobile
As autumn deepens, one of the pleasures is savoring the beauty of the changing leaves.
In addition to leaf-peeping outings, crafts you can enjoy at home are also recommended.
In particular, making a mobile with an autumn foliage motif is great for seniors.
Hang origami maple leaves with yarn to create a gentle sway.
Layering three to four pieces to form a three-dimensional leaf is another fun idea.
Why not hang your handmade mobile by the window and enjoy a graceful moment with the autumn breeze? You can feel the spirit of the season from each leaf you touch.
Grape decorations made from paper
Let’s create a three-dimensional bunch of grapes with round, plump berries by combining construction paper and tissue paper.
Twist brown construction paper to make the stem branch, then attach the berries and leaves to it.
For the berries, crumple tissue paper into a ball, wrap it with colored tissue paper, and secure the end tightly with a rubber band.
Next, attach the excess tissue paper on the opposite side of the berry to the stem using glue.
Encourage careful attention to fine motor movements through actions like twisting the stem and rolling the tissue paper into round shapes.
Pumpkin made of paper
Speaking of autumn, it’s the season when pumpkin tastes especially good.
And of course, October means Halloween, so it’s also the time when you see pumpkin displays all around town.
Let’s make a cute, three-dimensional pumpkin using construction paper! First, create a single template.
Then place it on top of an accordion-folded sheet of colored construction paper, cut along the template, and quickly mass-produce the parts.
After that, glue the pieces together and attach the stem at the top—that’s it! Making several and turning them into a garland would be adorable, too.
Paper Halloween decorations
Here’s a Halloween decoration you can make with construction paper.
The method is simple! Just crease or roll paper strips and staple them together.
You can create lots of Halloween-themed decorations like pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and moons.
You can thread each one with string to hang individually, or make a cute garland.
Having a sample on hand might make it easier for older adults to craft, too.
If you’re looking for an easy decoration to make, give this a try!
Cosmos made of paper tape
What often concerns people when making cosmos flowers is that there are so many intricate steps: finely cutting the petal shapes, and dealing with leaves and stems that have lots of thin lines—very detailed work.
But this method for making cosmos is very simple! For the petals, use paper tape and just cut the tips all at once with pinking shears.
For the stems and leaves, simply cut and twist green pipe cleaners, so even those who aren’t good at delicate tasks can give it a try.
With this method, you can make lots of them—an entire wall covered in cosmos isn’t just a dream!
Papercut flowers
Here’s an idea for making a cosmos flower with paper cutting.
Fold the origami into the specified shape, sketch the petals, and cut along the lines to create a large, single cosmos when you open it.
First, fold the origami in half into a square twice, then fold it once more into a triangle.
Lift half of the stacked layers and fold them so the bottom edge aligns with the left side.
On the other side, fold so the bottom edge aligns with the right side.
That’s the end of the folding steps.
Draw the petal pattern and cut along the lines with scissors.
If you place a yellow round sticker in the center, it will look even more like a cosmos.