[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] Autumn Handmade Crafts: Take-Home Project Ideas (1–10)
Acorn Hedgehog
Autumn has such pleasant weather for going out, like taking walks, doesn’t it? Here’s a cute hedgehog craft made with acorns you can’t help picking up at the park! First, shape some paper clay into a teardrop, and while the clay is still soft, embed the acorns and secure them with glue.
The idea is to have the acorns stand in for the hedgehog’s spines, so keep that image in mind as you work—that’s the key! It’s also adorable to pair the acorns with things like pipe cleaners, foxtail grass, or small twigs.
It would make a charming decoration for your entryway or a room, and your grandchild would probably be delighted to receive it as a gift.
maple leaf wall decoration
Maple leaves that color the autumn season.
Their warm, vibrant hues—red, yellow, and orange—can lift the spirits of older adults.
Here, we’ll make a wall decoration inspired by maple leaves! It will create a piece that lets you enjoy the feeling of autumn right in your room.
The method is simple: fold origami paper, sketch a maple leaf, and cut along the lines.
You can crumple the origami beforehand to give it a fallen-leaf texture, or try adding three-dimensional decorations to colored paper.
Using gradient origami paper can easily elevate the look of your piece, so give it a try!
Pastel Art of Autumn Leaves
Pastel art, which lets you enjoy a soft, gentle atmosphere, is sure to shine in autumn projects too! How about creating pastel pieces with autumn leaves as the motif? Since pastels are basically blended with your fingers, you don’t need special tools like brushes.
It’s an easy way to enjoy art, so it’s also recommended for craft activities in day service programs.
It’s convenient to prepare leaf-shaped stencils in advance—try making autumn-themed shapes like maple and ginkgo.
You can spread pastel on the background, place the stencil, and use an eraser to lift out the silhouette, or you can color directly with your fingers over the stencil.
It’s perfect for fine-motor training for seniors, so give it a try!
[Day Service] Handmade Autumn Crafts: Take-Home Project Ideas (11–20)
art pumpkin
When it comes to fall activities at day service centers, making art pumpkins is a perfect fit.
The beautiful pieces you create while having fun can be taken home and enjoyed as interior decor! The process is simple: just cut materials like newspaper or tissue paper according to a template and paste them together.
The result is three-dimensional, making it a lovely autumn ornament to brighten up any room.
It’s also perfect for Halloween-themed crafts, so why not try creating some fall memories together with older adults? These will not only enhance the autumn atmosphere at home, but are sure to delight relatives and friends as gifts as well.
Halloween lantern
Here’s a handmade lantern that’s perfect for Halloween, one of the big events in autumn.
It’s easy for anyone to make with familiar materials, and you can enjoy it at a day service center or at home.
All you do is use a pin to poke holes in a paper cup while imagining motifs like pumpkins.
If drawing is difficult, you can use a template.
Light up the finished lantern in the dark to soak up the Halloween atmosphere! These lanterns also make great gifts.
Chinese lantern decoration
Hozuki (Chinese lantern plants) have long been familiar to Japanese people, from the Hozuki Market to enjoying them as potted plants or dried flowers.
The way the calyx wraps the fruit and turns a bright orange is utterly charming and evokes the arrival of autumn, doesn’t it? This decoration is themed on hozuki, which many older adults also recognize.
With simple steps, you can make adorable hozuki, so consider incorporating it into autumn craft activities at day service centers! These lifelike hozuki look lovely on wall displays or shikishi boards, and they’re also beautiful arranged in a vase.
The vivid orange will instantly brighten up any room!
Chrysanthemum Flower Wall Decoration
Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular flowers in Japan.
In autumn, you’ll see them even more often, with chrysanthemum exhibitions being held.
How about turning those lovely chrysanthemums into a wall decoration? You can make one by cutting and pasting origami paper, tissue paper, or washi, so it should be easy for seniors to try as well.
You can curl the tips of the petals with a bamboo skewer to add movement, and arranging chrysanthemums in various sizes can look beautiful too.
Use a colored shikishi board as the base and enjoy displaying it on the wall.
It would also make a delightful gift for friends or family.