[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)
Grapes × Cosmos
It’s a decoration that strongly evokes the autumn atmosphere, with grapes inside a basket and cosmos flowers arranged around them.
For the grape cluster, use a sheet of construction paper cut into the shape of grapes as the base, and attach accordion-folded circles to represent the berries.
For the cosmos flowers, layer two petal pieces and attach a yellow piece in the center to complete the flower shape.
Next, create the basket weave by alternating strips of long, narrow brown origami paper, wrap it around the grapes, and place the cosmos around the outside to finish.
Each part involves detailed steps, so it’s a craft that tests concentration and fine motor skills.
[Day Service] Homemade crafts for autumn: take-home project ideas (51–60)
Grape wall decoration
For cute character decorations with a grape motif, pay attention to the choice of base colors and the placement of the facial features.
If the grape motif isn’t clear from the outline alone, adding shadows to the grapes can create a sense of depth and make it more recognizable.
Also, creating bases in different colors and arranging them together can effectively convey a bountiful autumn harvest and a lively atmosphere.
For the backgrounds where each character will be placed, choose bright colors like green so that the grape purple stands out.
Grape Puzzle
Would you like to try a grape puzzle using plastic bottle caps? This activity not only involves arranging caps, but also encourages creativity to make your own unique bunch of grapes.
It can promote independence and is great for brain training.
Because it uses fine motor skills, it’s also effective for finger rehabilitation.
Draw a grape stem on white construction paper and have older adults place the caps like a puzzle to form the shape of grapes.
It’s a simple yet enriching activity for seniors.
If you’re looking for ideas for activities at senior facilities or day services, why not try introducing this one?
Grapes & Cherries
These are soft, rounded parts shaped by gently forming a square sheet of origami.
Arrange small purple circles in a triangle to make grapes, or attach a stem to red circles to make cherries.
The key is a soft appearance—don’t press the creases too hard; fold gently to add a raised, three-dimensional look.
When making grapes, the arrangement and layering also matter; changing the order you place them helps create a sense of volume.
Combining various colors instead of using just one can also produce depth through color gradation.
Wreath of maple and ginkgo leaves
Let’s fold maple and ginkgo leaves with origami and make a wreath! Both the maple and the ginkgo use the same base up to a certain point, and then the folding steps differ, so it’s a good idea to prepare that basic form first.
The folds for both are a bit intricate—some involve offset folding—so they may feel challenging, but take your time and fold the details carefully.
Make three of each leaf, connect them together into a ring, and your wreath is complete.
Try making it with origami paper in your favorite colors!
Maple Leaves and Showa-Era Children
When a Showa-era scene unfolds, many older people surely feel nostalgic, warmed, and eager to reminisce.
How about making maple leaves and Showa-era children out of origami to decorate the wall? These days there are plenty of cute origami papers with many patterns.
Using patterned origami to fold the children’s kimonos would turn out adorable, too! A wall decoration of children looking up at the maple leaves is charming—staff can certainly make it, but it’s also nice for everyone to fold the pieces together, enjoy the process, and then display them.
Maple leaf string art
Incorporating activities that people can’t usually experience into day-service craft sessions is highly recommended because it stimulates older adults! While it may not be very common in Japan, let’s try making a maple leaf with string art, which uses nails and thread to create motifs.
After hammering nails into a board in the shape of a maple leaf, you loop the thread around the tips of the leaf.
You can add your own flair depending on how you string the thread and the colors you choose, so have fun making it! It would also make a stylish interior piece and a gift that’s sure to please.