[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 Crafts for Autumn: Take-Home Project Ideas (41–50)
Persimmon made with accordion folding
Many people feel the arrival of autumn when they see persimmons, don’t they? This time, we’re introducing a persimmon craft made with an accordion fold that’s perfect for the autumn season.
All you need is origami paper, a calyx (leaf top), double-sided tape, yarn, and glue.
Even if you’re not good at crafts, once you master the accordion fold, you can make it easily.
The accordion fold is a method where you alternate mountain and valley folds three times.
Simply attach the pieces of origami folded in this way, and you’ll have a realistic persimmon.
Incorporate it into your room decor and enjoy the full autumn atmosphere.
Just tear and stick! Autumn leaves wall decoration
A maple-leaf wall decoration you can finish without using scissors is also recommended.
All you need are construction paper and origami paper.
Use the construction paper as the base, then glue torn pieces of origami paper onto it to create a foliage-like look.
You can recreate typical red autumn leaves, or use Japanese-patterned origami for a more traditional vibe—it sounds fun either way.
The color of the base construction paper will also change the overall mood.
If you want a calm, subdued impression, black seems like a good choice.
Adjust the look to match your preferences.
Maple leaves made with tsumami-zaiku
Once you start to feel the autumn breeze, you’ll want to bring autumn-themed activities into your day-service craft sessions! How about trying handmade maple leaves using tsumami-zaiku, a traditional Japanese craft that evokes a classic aesthetic? Tsumami-zaiku is a technique passed down since the Edo period, where small pieces of fabric are folded and pinched, then combined to create shapes.
Because it involves delicate work, it can help older adults with dementia prevention and fine motor training.
It’s perfect for autumn décor and as a charming accent for accessories, making it a lovely gift as well.
Acorn beanbags
October is perfect for outings.
If you pick up acorns at a park or campsite, try making beanbags! Beanbags are also familiar to many older adults, so they may be useful for reminiscence therapy as well.
Prepare a rectangular piece of fabric with a pattern you like, sew a running stitch along the long edge, and instead of tying off, trim the excess thread.
Next, fold the fabric in half, sew the edge closed, and tie it off.
On the side where you didn’t tie off earlier, pull the thread to gather the fabric, wrap it around, and tie it off.
Turn the fabric right side out, fill it with acorns, then sew a running stitch around the opening, pull the thread to gather it, and you’re done! It’s also perfect for fine motor training for older adults, so why not give it a try?
Acorn magnet clip
It’s always handy to have items you can display unobtrusively.
With that in mind, here’s an idea I’d like to introduce: acorn magnet clips.
The concept is simple—attach acorns to clips or magnets.
The fun part is that you can come up with all kinds of designs.
For example, you could make the acorn caps yourself with twine, or add dried flowers, and so on.
They’re also a nice size, making them perfect as small gifts for someone.
Acorn tree
As an interior item that lets you feel the seasons, we recommend an acorn tree.
This involves stacking and gluing lots of acorns together to make a tree.
Of course, you can display it as soon as you make it, but it’s also great to craft it in autumn and put it out at Christmas.
You can place a pine cone on the top or wrap a ribbon around it if you like, which really boosts its uniqueness.
By the way, there’s also the idea of painting individual acorns to resemble little trees.
Moon-viewing rabbit made of clay
Here’s a simple rabbit craft idea using clay.
Wondering what kind of rabbit? Think of a snow rabbit.
You’ll need 25 g of white clay.
First, divide the clay into two parts.
Use the first part for the rabbit’s body; the second part is for the ears and tail, so a small amount is fine.
Roll the first portion into an egg shape.
To keep it from rolling, flatten the bottom slightly.
Divide the second portion into three pieces to make the ears and tail, then attach them to the body with glue.
Finally, add the eyes, and you’re done.
For an even nicer finish, make the ears with Japanese-patterned chiyogami and decorate them, and create a background by accordion-folding paper.
