[For Seniors] Practical Crafts to Make in Day-Service Recreation: Idea Roundup
At day service craft activities, there are times when participants make items to take home.
I imagine many people display them at home, too.
This time, we’re sharing craft ideas for older adults that you can make and actually use!
We’ve gathered practical crafts you can keep using after you make them, as well as stylish pieces that look great on display.
Simply changing the origami patterns or the types of beads and ribbons can create a completely different feel, so have fun using these ideas as inspiration.
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- [For Seniors] Recycle Everyday Materials: A Collection of Flyer Craft Ideas
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[For Seniors] Practical Crafts to Make in Day-Service Recreational Activities: Ideas Summary (131–140)
A decorative box with traditional Japanese patterns
If you’re doing flyer crafts, how about a cute box with Japanese patterns? Once you’ve prepared unwanted ads or catalogs and some patterned chiyogami paper, fold the flyer so it becomes long horizontally and cut it in half; also cut the origami paper in half.
Fold the flyer in half, leaving a small margin at the top, then wrap it around a pencil, gluing here and there as you go.
Once it forms a stick, attach the Japanese-patterned chiyogami.
Make many of these in the same way, then assemble them.
Glue adjacent sticks together with craft glue to form the base, then attach the sides in the same way to finish.
Simple kusudama hanging ornament
How about turning a kusudama made from flyers into a gently swaying hanging ornament? You can make a kusudama by combining 12 small pieces.
We’ve introduced an easy method in this article and on YouTube, so please take a look for reference.
Prepare a long length of lace thread and tie a large knot at the end.
Once it’s threaded through a needle, string the parts in any order you like.
Adding beads or little cranes makes it extra cute! Finish by threading everything onto a slim rod, and you’re done.
This hanging ornament, which sways with every breeze, will brighten up any room.
Please hang it up and let it soothe you.
openwork basket
There are many crafts you can make with advertising flyers, but how about trying a large basket this time? Older adults may be surprised that you can make such a big basket from flyers.
Cut the glossy flyers into long, thin strips and roll them diagonally from the corner.
Secure the end with glue when you finish rolling.
Hold four and five of the thin rolled sticks in each hand, cross them, and wrap them as if tying the bundle while bending one stick at a time.
Pair the vertical spokes in twos and weave them together; once you’ve made the base, continue weaving the sides.
It’s a craft that requires concentration, imagination, and time, but because it’s a substantial project, you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment when it’s finished!
Woven basket with a cobblestone pattern
Let’s try making a basket using the stone-paving weave by combining small cut pieces of advertisements! When you hear “stone-paving weave,” you might picture baskets made with craft bands.
In this video, we’ll take on the stone-paving weave using familiar ad flyers instead.
Fold the small cut flyers, and combine four pieces while they’re folded in half.
From there, keep adding more pieces to build the basket.
Even though the material is just paper flyers, the multiple interlocking parts create a sturdy basket.
Try making one together with everyone!
Wind chimes made from egg cartons
Eggs are something almost every household uses.
This time, we’re sharing an idea to transform an egg carton into a wind chime.
First, cut out a single-cup section of the carton.
Make a hole in the center, then decorate the rim with bead stickers or similar embellishments.
Prepare a small hanging strip (tanzaku) decorated to your liking, and thread it together with a bell; attach a pipe cleaner at the front end.
Add a bead to secure the carton, twist the pipe cleaner, and your wind chime is ready to hang anywhere.
The steps are simple, and because it uses fine motor skills, it’s perfect as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.
clear-file wind chime
Because clear plastic files let light through, decorating them with colored film or pens creates the beauty of a glass-like wind chime.
The gentle, translucent colors are easy on the eyes and relaxing just to look at.
They also stimulate the senses of older adults, which can help with dementia prevention.
Cut the clear file to the desired size and attach the pieces.
Add your favorite decorations with beads or masking tape, and your original wind chime is complete! Let the transparent, beautiful wind chime soothe your body and mind.
Mini wind chime
How about making a cute miniature wind chime using a jelly cup? Wash and dry the jelly container, apply glue, and stick on pieces of cut paper like a collage.
Once the glue dries, make a hole in the center to thread a string through, and trim off any excess parts of the container with scissors.
Thread a strip of paper (tanzaku) and a small bell onto the string, then pass the string through the jelly cup.
Adding a bead or similar item where the string meets the cup helps keep it in place and makes it look nicer as an accent.
You can also draw patterns on the tanzaku or decorate the wind chime with stickers to make your own original design.
Give it a try!