[For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
Craft time at the day service is an important activity that enriches both mind and body.
Each piece—like adorable pipe-cleaner bouquets and handy little organizers—shines with its own personality.
They’re lovely to use yourself, and they’d surely delight someone special as a gift!
None of the projects are very complicated, so you can take your time and work at your own pace.
Making them while chatting with other participants also helps expand your circle of communication.
Why not choose your favorite materials and colors to create a one-of-a-kind handmade piece in the whole world?
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[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Services! Easy and Cute Small Craft Ideas (61–70)
Grape brooch made with tsumami-zaiku
Tsumami-zaiku is made by folding small pieces of fabric.
Although it involves lots of delicate work, seniors who enjoy handicrafts or are good with their hands may find it fun to make.
Let’s try making a grape brooch, a great autumn craft using tsumami-zaiku.
Create the folded pieces and secure them with glue, then attach them to a base fabric in the shape of grapes.
Cut the base fabric into a grape shape, insert a piece of cardstock, and sew felt onto the back.
Add a brooch pin to complete the brooch.
The finished piece looks cute when attached to a bag or clothing.
Kalimba
Are you familiar with an instrument called the kalimba? It’s an African instrument that you play by plucking thin metal tines with your fingers.
Other than the thin metal parts, the rest is made of wood.
Let’s try making the wooden part using disposable chopsticks.
Cut bamboo chopsticks to half their length and glue them together with wood glue.
Once the chopsticks are glued into a single board-like piece, attach chopsticks fitted with hairpins and secure them with rubber bands.
Adjust the position of the hairpins to tune the notes, and you’re done.
Once it’s finished, it can be fun for seniors to play together in a little concert along with music.
ornament
When it comes to Christmas ornaments you can make from toilet paper rolls, the first thing that comes to mind is a gift box ornament tied with a ribbon.
Shape the roll into rectangles, combine them into a cube, wrap it with silver paper, and add a ribbon, and in no time you have a dazzling present-shaped ornament.
What’s more, the cube creates a small hollow space inside.
Hiding a tiny treat in that space for a surprise is a fun idea.
At first glance it may look like just an ornament, but in fact it’s full of playful spirit.
Even something often thought of as disposable, like a toilet paper roll, can become a lovely ornament with a bit of ingenuity, born from simple, everyday materials.
Easy-to-make quilling
This is an easy paper quilling method that anyone can try, using strips of colored paper cut into long, narrow pieces about 5 mm wide.
Basically, wrap the strip around a bamboo skewer, then remove it and make lots of parts! You can use them tightly wound, loosen them and shape them as you like—the creative freedom is part of the fun.
Since you’ll attach the pieces to a backing at the end, work while imagining the design you want in advance.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, why not try various shapes like teardrops and hearts?
treasure chest
A “treasure chest” made with popsicle sticks and interior adhesive sheets is an easy craft that even older adults can enjoy.
First, cut the sheet into your preferred shapes and attach the popsicle sticks.
If you stick them onto a wooden window frame from a 100-yen shop and paint it, it will have the look of a real wooden treasure chest.
Add stickers and decorative parts at the end, and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind, original treasure chest.
The process uses your fingertips, making it a good workout for the brain, and once it’s finished, you can enjoy using it as a small storage box or as a display piece.
Give it a try!
basket
Let me show you a cute basket you can make using ice cream sticks.
Get your ice cream sticks, a hot glue gun, fabric, string, and some decorations to attach to the basket, and let’s get started.
First, make the box shape that will serve as the base of the basket.
When gluing the fabric to the box, the key is to stretch it as you attach it so it doesn’t wrinkle.
When attaching the ice cream sticks to the box, glue them so there are no gaps.
If you braid the string or attach it directly as you go, it will add a unique, cute touch.
Finally, attach the handle while checking the balance on both sides, add your decorations, and you’re done.
Pin Friends
Let me introduce some very cute “pin friends” made from popsicle sticks.
Draw faces on the sticks and add color.
Using washi tape or colored pens to create patterns will make them look bright and adorable.
Once you’ve finished drawing, glue the popsicle sticks onto clips and you’re done.
They’d look stylish and cute attached to a small message card or letter.
Making several in different sizes to create a set of pin friends would look festive when lined up, too.
Give it a try!