Lovely senior life

For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

If you can take home the pieces made at day service centers and other senior facilities, you can display or use them at home, adding a little extra enjoyment to everyday life.

Many older adults also enjoy focusing on the act of making things.

So this time, we’ve gathered ideas for projects you can take home.

We’ve included practical items you can use at home, like small organizers and photo frames, as well as pieces you can simply display and enjoy!

The materials are easy to prepare, and we also make use of recyclables like empty jars.

Crafting involves using your fingertips, which can stimulate the brain and help prevent cognitive decline, while also providing a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment from creating something.

Please have fun making these projects!

For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts — Day Service Take-Home Project Ideas (11–20)

coaster

Vase mat and coasters made with string and paper plates (Monthly Day, August 2021) #craft #elderly #nursingCare #dayService #easy #handKnitting

coaster

Let’s make coasters using paper plates and string.

Since they’re round mats, you can use them not only for drink glasses but also under vases and in many other situations.

You’ll cut slits in a paper plate and weave string through them, similar to knitting.

The key step is to pass the string alternately over and under the strings stretched out radially, which makes it a detailed craft and a good exercise for finger dexterity.

You can also switch string colors partway through, offering lots of room for customization, so it might be fun to think about what kind of design you want to create.

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Carnations that change color in water

Carnations that change color with water 🌹 #at-home play #parent-child play #educational play #craft play #MothersDay

Carnations that change color in water

Let’s make carnations that become stylishly colored when you sprinkle water on them! First, cut a double layer of kitchen paper into four pieces, stack them all together, fold them in an accordion, and secure the center with a rubber band.

Cut both ends into triangles, then spread out the kitchen paper as if you’re opening a flower.

Attach a straw to serve as the stem, and randomly add color to the kitchen paper with water-based pens.

Finally, mist it with water, and the water-based ink will bleed and spread, coloring the carnation! Once the water has dried, wrap it up to give as a gift or use it as decoration.

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Mall’s Mr. Bear SunflowerNEW!

Make it with pipe cleaners! Cute handmade art of a bear sunflower How to Make a Pipe Cleaner Bear Sunflower – DIY Craft

Mall's Mr. Bear SunflowerNEW!

When you think of flowers that represent summer, many people probably answer “sunflowers,” right? Here’s a perfect summer craft: a chenille-stem creation that combines a sunflower and a bear.

Sunflowers have a brown center, don’t they? The fun twist in this piece is turning that brown sunflower center into a bear.

You attach sunflower petals around the bear’s face.

Its unique style is likely to bring smiles to older adults as they make it.

It’s the kind of finished piece that would delight family members or grandchildren if you give it as a present.

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Chenille Rabbit BroochNEW!

[DIY How-To] Super easy! How to make a bunny brooch with chenille stems #DIY #Handmade

Chenille Rabbit BroochNEW!

A rabbit’s fluffy look matches the soft texture of chenille stems perfectly! Using one chenille stem, make the rabbit’s head, body, and hind legs.

Starting from forming the shape of the rabbit’s ears, build out the entire face.

If you want floppy ears, bend the chenille stem downward; if you want upright ears, proceed as is.

After shaping the body and hind legs, insert a brooch safety pin into the back.

Then prepare another chenille stem to make the front legs.

Pose it as you like, and finish by attaching eye parts and any other decorative pieces you prefer.

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Wire craft animalsNEW!

[With Patterns] Practice Together! “Animals ①” Simple Series Vol. 4 [Wire Craft]

Wire craft animalsNEW!

When you use animals like dogs and cats as motifs for wire crafts, they can feel stylish and refined.

They would make lovely interior decor just as they are, displayed in a room.

Also, placing an animal wire craft beside a wire-made pen holder or a message can help create a cohesive world for the piece.

How about making one featuring an animal that an older adult likes? It could spark lively conversation about their favorite animals while crafting.

It’s easier to make if you draw a rough sketch first.

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Kintaro made with a Yakult container

[Children’s Day] Kintarō made with a Yakult container

Kintaro made with a Yakult container

Kintaro, whose kindness and robust figure are depicted in folktales.

The Kintaro dolls displayed on Children’s Day are put up with the wish that children will grow up healthy and kind-hearted.

How about making such a Kintaro ornament using a familiar Yakult bottle? Cut a circle from thick paper the size of the Yakult opening and attach it to the mouth.

Stick double-sided tape on the bottle and wrap skin-colored yarn around and around.

Wrapping it carefully without gaps will give you a neat finish.

Wind black yarn around your hand to make the hair and topknot.

Make the belly apron from red felt and the axe from black felt, and add eyes with rhinestone stickers to complete it.

You might also make a carp streamer and display them together.

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[For Seniors] Simple and Lovely Crafts: Day Service Take-Home Project Ideas (21–30)

Baby’s breath at the mallNEW!

Easy with chenille stems: How to make baby’s breath! Freely mix colors for super-cute handmade flowers 🌸✨ #handmade #handmade #diy #flowers #crafts #crafts #handmade #paper

Baby’s breath at the mallNEW!

You can also make baby’s breath, which has a small and delicate look, using chenille stems (pipe cleaners).

Cut a pipe cleaner to about 4 centimeters in length and curl the tip into a small loop.

In addition to using your fingertips, try using needle-nose pliers for the finer parts.

Since you’ll use tools, this is a project that older adults who enjoy crafting can also find fun to work on.

With scissors, trim the fuzzy part of the pipe cleaner everywhere except the curled tip.

This creates the stem of the baby’s breath.

The more pipe cleaners with these tiny loops you make, the more realistic your baby’s breath will look.

When you put everything together, you’ll have a bunch of pipe cleaner baby’s breath with lots of little blossoms.

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