[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! Simple and Cute Small Craft Ideas (281–290)
baseball cap
It’s a baseball cap you can actually wear, made from flyers! It might be a bit on the challenging side, but the sense of accomplishment matches the effort you put in.
First, crumple up a large flyer into a ball and then spread it out, shaping the whole thing into a cylinder.
Tip: check as you go to make sure your head fits inside! Next, fold the edge in slightly and secure it, then turn about half of it inside out in one go.
Finally, push the remaining part over to one side to create a hole, shape the brim, and you’re done! No glue or scissors needed.
It’s great to make with your grandkids, and also recommended as an activity for day-service recreation!
A basket woven from hemp twine
Compared to a while ago, 100-yen shops have increased.
From handy gadgets and clever items to relaxing goods, you can’t help but reach out and end up buying things you don’t even need.
So here’s a lovely mini basket made from materials sold at 100-yen shops: paper cups and jute twine.
To make it, just cut the paper cup into strips and weave the jute twine through them.
If you’re an older person who enjoys knitting, you’ll probably breeze through the steps.
It does involve detailed work, so it can take quite a bit of time.
You might enjoy splitting it up over several days and working on it at your own pace.
roly-poly toy
You can make that distinctive roly-poly tumbler toy by hand.
The materials are simple: just three basics—air-dry paper clay, an empty capsule from a gacha machine, and a marble—plus some paint.
The key is to place the rounder half of the capsule on the bottom and spread a thin layer of paper clay over it to attach.
Drop the marble inside and secure it further with clay.
Cover the top as well, wrapping the whole thing in clay.
Once you’ve checked that it rights itself when tipped, let it dry for half a day to a full day, then paint it however you like.
If you’re worried about finger strength, using a lightweight clay makes it easier—so give it a try.
By the way, in this method you can even make it without the capsule, which makes it even simpler! A daruma shape, which is said to bring good luck, fits perfectly, but feel free to enjoy any design you like.
Easel made from straws
Paper straws, which you now often see even at fast-food restaurants.
Let’s use those paper straws to make a mini easel for displaying drawings or photos! There are no difficult steps, and it’s super easy to make, so it’s perfect for recreation at day service centers.
Open two straws into a triangle by bringing their ends together.
Next, cut another straw to about three-fifths of its length and attach it slightly above the base of the triangle.
Thread both ends of a piece of twine through from the underside of the straws, and loop a second piece of twine over the first one you threaded.
Then pass both ends of the second twine through another straw, and tie all the twine together—that’s it! To keep the strings from getting tangled, using different colors might make it easier.
snow globe
A snow globe packed with a dreamy worldview.
It’s also great for Christmas or New Year’s crafts, so why not include it in day-service recreation? Here’s a super-easy way to make a snow globe using supplies from a 100-yen shop.
First, fix your motif to the inside of the jar with glue.
Next, pour water until the jar is about half full, then fill the rest to the brim with liquid glue.
To finish, add glitter, close the lid, and you’re done! The trick is to stir the glitter with chopsticks to prevent air bubbles.
Have fun by sealing in seasonal motifs and more.
Mini Lease
A mini wreath made with pom-pom balls from Seria is a charming, miniature-like creation that will make your heart skip a beat.
It’s perfect for events like Christmas, too.
Use 12 mm pom-pom balls and thread them together with a needle and thread to form the wreath.
Once you’ve strung enough to make a circle, tie the thread to secure it.
Decorate with items like garland bells and ribbons—these can also be found at 100-yen shops.
The process itself isn’t very difficult, but since you’ll often be threading through small areas, it might be helpful to have someone assist with those finer parts.
lampshade
A lampshade that soothes with warm light.
How about reusing a milk carton to make one by hand? You can take it home and use it afterward, so it’s a fun craft that kills two birds with one stone! First, draw your favorite motifs—like fallen leaves or seasonal flowers—on washi paper using water-based markers or watercolor paints.
Once the paper is dry, cut out each motif.
Next, peel off the outer paper layer of the milk carton, cut the carton in half, and glue the spout area closed.
Then attach the motifs so they overlap on both the inside and outside of the carton—done! Place it over an LED light, and the light will shine through beautifully!