[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 (181–190)
amigurumi
Some seniors may be good at knitting, don’t you think? Some of you might even have knitted scarves or sweaters for your family.
Here’s a cute amigurumi kit that might bring back those memories.
Amigurumi are stuffed toys made by crocheting yarn.
There seem to be many varieties, including anime characters, animals, and seasonal themes.
The kit includes yarn and stuffing, so it’s easy to get started.
Once finished, it would likely make a delightful gift for your grandchildren.
Give it a try and create something adorable!
[For Seniors] Recommended for Day Service! Easy and Cute Small Craft Ideas (191–200)
matcha (powdered green tea)
This piece is inspired by the Japanese tea ceremony, a cultural tradition passed down since the Muromachi period and beloved around the world.
It depicts the process of preparing matcha using a tea bowl, tea caddy, tea whisk, and tea scoop, evoking a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Although it begins with cutting out small parts, using your fingertips is said to be highly effective in helping prevent cognitive decline.
In addition, applying glue and assembling the parts in a prescribed order engages executive functions—planning and carrying out steps—which likewise holds promise for supporting cognitive health.
If you do this as a recreation activity in a senior facility, it can be fun to show and compare the finished pieces.
Please give it a try!
Suede-like 3D mask
There are many occasions to wear a mask, such as preventing infections or when you have a cough.
So why not try making your own mask using a mask kit? While there are gauze-style mask kits, here we’ll introduce a chic suede-style mask kit.
The kit includes suede fabric, elastic, and a pattern.
Besides the included suede fabric, you can also use suede in other colors.
You can make two types of masks.
For one, trace the pattern onto the fabric and cut it out with scissors.
Sew the fabric with a sewing machine to finish.
For the other, attach elastic to the ear sections of the mask to make it.
A mask you make yourself is likely to bring a happy feeling when worn, especially for older adults.
spring frame pouch
Introducing a kit for a spring-clasp pouch that snaps open wide.
Instead of a drawstring, you attach a metal spring frame to the opening of the pouch or a small bag.
Because it closes securely, it could be handy for storing snacks, medicine, stamps, and the like.
This is an embroidery kit specifically for spring-clasp pouches: embroider the fabric, sew it into a pouch shape, and finally attach the spring frame to finish.
It’s sold as a 100-yen shop kit, but it will also turn out beautifully if you swap the embroidery fabric for one you prefer.
It’s a convenient pouch that seniors can use to keep small essentials close at hand.
Patchwork
Patchwork is the art of creating works by piecing together various fabrics.
The range of projects is broad, from small accessories to large items like bed covers.
Among older adults, some may feel, “I can make lovely pieces, but I’m not good at sewing.” For them, we’d like to introduce a kit that lets you create patchwork-style works without sewing.
Simply place fabrics onto a board that has a printed guide and an adhesive surface.
The fabrics are pre-cut to match the outlines of the guide.
Add some padding in the appropriate areas to create a three-dimensional effect.
With a finish that looks like real patchwork, it’s sure to satisfy older adults as well.
Embroidery kit
These days, 100-yen shops sell all kinds of items.
They even have craft sections, so you can easily try things without going to a specialty store.
This time, I’d like to introduce embroidery kits from 100-yen shops.
They come with fabric printed with embroidery patterns and a set of instructions that explain the stitches and steps.
The designs include flowers, letters, and more, so pick your favorite and give it a try.
You can also find matching threads and embroidery hoops in the craft section at the 100-yen shop.
Older adults can enjoy quietly stitching their projects while having lively conversations with those around them.
Momotaro
The story of “Momotaro” has long been loved as a tale in which Momotaro sets out to defeat demons with millet dumplings made by his grandmother hanging at his waist, accompanied by a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant.
This time, let’s make the main character, Momotaro.
Cutting out small parts with scissors involves fine hand movements and thinking about “How should I cut this?”, which provides good stimulation for the brain and is expected to help prevent dementia.
If you’re doing this in a senior care facility, it’s safer to pre-cut the parts and have participants do the pasting.