[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] Practical crafts to make in day-service recreation. Idea roundup (241–250)
Mini bag made of faux leather
Faux leather for crafts, which is also sold at 100-yen shops.
Unlike fabric, faux leather doesn’t fray at the edges, so you don’t even need to sew it.
It’s a perfect material for crafts aimed at seniors that don’t use needles.
Prepare a mini-bag pattern in advance, trace it onto the faux leather, and draw your guidelines.
Cut along the lines and assemble.
You can also add plates or ribbons if you like.
It will look nice displayed in a senior’s room, and it would also make a delightful gift for family.
name tag rosette
Here’s an idea for a wearable name-tag rosette.
It consists of two main parts.
The first is the rosette body—decorate it with any design you like.
The second is the pin attachment.
Make this by sticking masking tape together in a Y shape.
Then combine the body with the pin attachment and add the pin to finish.
If you write your name on it, it could be very handy at events with lots of people.
Start by looking for masking tape with a cute pattern!
Japanese-style cherry blossom wall decoration
Let’s make a cherry blossom wall decoration that captures the charm of traditional Japanese style using disposable chopsticks.
Cover the chopsticks with vinyl tape and assemble them to create a frame.
On the base of the frame made from a milk carton, arrange cherry blossoms.
To give it a more traditional look, be sure to add a paper fan made from construction paper.
Making the cherry blossoms with washi-patterned origami paper will also result in a beautiful finish.
Because this piece includes a frame, you can take it home.
It might also be nice to display in a senior’s room.
Since you can make it with familiar, everyday materials, be sure to try it as a spring craft.
Japanese-style name tag
This is a name tag made by layering various materials such as origami paper and fabric with traditional Japanese-style patterns.
The key point is how you arrange the layers, and it’s a great way to use leftover origami or fabric scraps from other crafts.
Cut unwanted cardboard to your desired size and use it as a base, then wrap it with origami paper or fabric.
If you’ll use it as a name tag, it’s recommended to leave a space for the name when wrapping, or attach the name afterward.
Rather than expressing a Japanese feel with patterns alone, adding three-dimensional motifs like flowers could also be interesting.
Japanese-style rhombus pen holder
This pen holder has a mysterious shape that makes you wonder, “How do you make it? Isn’t it difficult?” But you can make it with just one milk carton and some origami paper—and by using your favorite origami or chiyogami, you can enjoy different looks.
For the spout section of the milk carton, cut slits at the four corners, mark a point 10 cm from there, and cut off the bottom portion.
The part with the slits will become the base, so cut off the spout area, then draw diagonal lines across the main body to form an X.
Score along the lines with scissors or a hard tool like a ballpoint pen to make folding easier.
Cover the surface with origami from the top, and for the indented diamond sections, apply a different piece of origami to finish.
Accessory storage basket
Having a small storage basket at home is perfect for your room’s interior, isn’t it? Believe it or not, you can make a small storage basket with just one sheet of colored construction paper.
Cutting and connecting the paper takes a bit of delicate work, but it’s also great as rehabilitation for seniors, so it’s recommended.
The woven pattern looks stylish—just like a real basket.
You can change the color of the paper, so you can customize it freely.
It’s great for use at home, and it would also make a delightful gift for someone special.
Its compact size is adorable and sure to come in handy.
[For seniors] Practical crafts to make in day service recreation: Idea roundup (251–260)
Drawer organizer
A pull-out drawer organizer is really handy to have, isn’t it? We’ll make one by covering milk cartons with fabric, and the great thing is that thanks to the fabric, it won’t look like it’s made from milk cartons.
Use two cartons to create the outer case and the inner drawer.
Make the inner part about 5 mm smaller so it slides in and out smoothly.
Brush a diluted wood glue on both pieces and apply your favorite fabric.
Using different fabrics for the outside and inside makes it extra cute.
Since it’s hard to pull out as is, attach a handle to finish it off.