[For Senior Daycare Centers] Ideas for Summer Take-Home Crafts

balloon goldfish

[Summer Origami] Traditional balloon goldfish – easy folding instructions with voice narration ☆ Origami Balloon Goldfish Tutorial / Tatsukuri

How about making a traditional origami balloon goldfish as a summer decoration? It’s great as an accent for your room’s interior or as a hanging ornament.

There aren’t any particularly difficult folds, so even seniors can try it with ease.

By blowing air into it at the end, it becomes three-dimensional and looks adorable! Since origami uses your fingers, it’s also perfect for finger dexterity training for seniors and for helping prevent cognitive decline.

You can add round stickers for the eyes, and using gradient or patterned origami paper would look lovely too!

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miyabi

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Watermelon fan

In summer, I used popsicle sticks to make a watermelon folding fan, handmade DIY, parent-child h

Here’s how to make a watermelon fan using popsicle sticks.

Gather popsicle sticks, wire, colored construction paper, and glue.

Prepare five popsicle sticks and drill a hole at the bottom of each stick.

Thread the wire through the holes to bind them together.

Cut the construction paper into a fan-shaped watermelon slice, and use colored paper to create the rind and seeds to form the watermelon design.

Open and close the fan as you assemble it so the shape and movement work smoothly, then finish it up.

Add your name or decorations to create your own original fan.

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mayumi

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Summer greeting card with sunflowers

Kids can do it easily too! There's still time to write your summer greeting card! [Summer Card]

We’re pleased to share an idea for a handmade card that captures the brightness of summer: a “Sunflower Summer Greeting.” Draw the sunflower’s outline with a brush pen, then use paints to color the petals and center—this hand-drawn touch adds a special warmth.

The slight bleeding and roughness become part of the charm, creating a soft, gentle impression.

Add a line wishing the recipient good health to make it a heartfelt piece.

Sunflowers are summer blooms that brighten anyone’s mood.

It’s a summer greeting that delivers joy: the pleasure of drawing and the happiness of sending, all in one card that truly reaches the heart.

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kojifumi

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Rubbing dyeing of morning glories

Do it in 3 minutes! Easy ★ Morning Glory Rubbing Dyeing

Here’s an idea for a senior-friendly summer art project that lets you enjoy the natural patterns and gentle color bleeding of leaves and flowers: “Morning Glory Rubbing Dye.” Place leaves or flowers on a sheet of paper, cover them with another sheet, and gently rub over the top with your fingertips to transfer the colors.

Morning glory petals, in particular, have beautifully delicate hues that result in a uniquely nuanced finish characteristic of rubbing dye.

Cut out the dyed patterns, paste them onto drawing paper, and frame them to create a cool, elegant piece.

Using natural materials engages the senses and evokes the changing seasons.

It’s a calming summer craft that offers both the fun of dyeing and the beauty of the finished work.

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kojifumi

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Goldfish made with paper quilling

How to Make a Paper Goldfish – DIY

Let’s try making a goldfish with paper quilling, a craft where you roll narrow strips of paper to create various shapes.

Basically, you wind the paper around a thin stick like a toothpick to make coils, then loosen, pinch, and shape them into parts.

You’ll need six parts for the goldfish: one for the head and body together, three for the tail fin, and one each for the dorsal and pectoral fins.

Once the parts are ready, assemble and glue them together, then add beads for the eyes.

Create a base by gluing paper cord into a spiral, attach the goldfish to it, and you’ll have a summery wall decoration.

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sasashina

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Summer ocean wreath using 100-yen store materials

[100-Yen Shops and Natural Kitchen] Handmade Summer Wreath with an Ocean Motif

The “Summer Ocean Wreath,” made by sprinkling in charming items you can find at 100-yen shops, is a delightful craft that’s perfect for older adults, too.

Try arranging colorful materials—like life rings, sailboats, tetrapods, and artificial hydrangeas—however your heart desires.

Using a hot glue gun will secure them firmly in place, making it simple and approachable.

As the three-dimensional pieces come together, a cool, summery atmosphere spreads across the wall.

It’s a gentle seasonal decoration that brightens your mood just by looking at it.

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kojifumi

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goldfish bowl

[Origami Activity] How to Make a Fishbowl and Build Creative Arrangement Skills for Seniors

Let’s make a goldfish bowl using clear folders that are also sold at 100-yen shops.

Insert an illustration of a goldfish bowl into the clear folder and trace the bowl with a pen.

You can easily create the goldfish bowl illustration by downloading one from the internet.

Use tissue-paper aquarium plants, goldfish cut from origami, and colorful stickers of goldfish to build your goldfish bowl.

Because seniors can choose various materials to suit their preferences, it helps develop their ability to arrange and improvise.

They’ll be able to create pieces with individuality.

When a work they made with care is displayed on the wall, it will likely give them a sense of accomplishment and joy.

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Nakajima Junko

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