[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended for December
December brings fun events and major occasions like Christmas and New Year’s.
Let’s help older adults feel the season with crafts that capture the spirit of December! We’ve gathered many projects that are easy to prepare and simple to make, using recycled materials and items from 100-yen shops.
Moving the fingers during crafting can also have brain-training benefits.
You can display the finished pieces, or take them home to use if they’re practical items.
Enjoy a wonderful time with crafts that are perfect for wrapping up the year.
- Take-Home Craft Ideas for Winter: Perfect for Day Services for Seniors
- [Christmas & New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Services in December
- For seniors: Decorate the December wall with a tree. Easy ideas using origami and yarn.
- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Try Making a Handmade Christmas Wreath! A Collection of Ideas Using Everyday Materials
- [For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy: Perfect Wall Decoration Ideas for Winter in Care Facilities
- [For Seniors] Lovely Christmas Crafts: Easy Ideas Using Recycled Materials and 100-Yen Shop Supplies
- [For Seniors] Perfect for winter events! Easy craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas That Feel Warm and Heartfelt
- Recommended winter wall decorations for seniors: heartwarming ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended in December! Safe and Fun Indoor Recreation
- [For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended for December (101–110)
Koeda Christmas Tree
Let’s make a cute Christmas tree with a cozy, at-home feel using small twigs.
You can use twigs you picked up during an outing or walk, or opt for ones sold at 100-yen shops—either works! For the base, we recommend using a thin wooden board called a wood slice, also available at 100-yen shops.
Stand the twigs on the base in the shape of a tree and glue them in place.
Once the tree shape is done, attach small ornaments to decorate, and you’re finished.
Choose the twigs and base according to the size of the tree you want to make.
Christmas cake made of origami
This is a Christmas cake made of origami that works great in a variety of situations—gift boxes, candy holders, or small-item containers! Because this craft involves making many cake parts from origami, it’s perfect for dividing up the work among a group.
If you’re looking for winter craft activity ideas, why not give this a try? The cake base is an octagonal box assembled from combined parts.
On top, you add origami decorations like Santas, trees, and strawberries.
You can display it as is, or hide a present inside the box for a fun surprise that’s sure to be a hit.
3D poinsettia with origami
Introducing a three-dimensional origami poinsettia to get you in the Christmas spirit! It’s perfect for holiday decorations and as a tree ornament.
The key to this origami is to proceed while making crisp, precise creases.
Because it’s shaped in 3D, some of the intricate steps and fine folds may be challenging.
For a glamorous finish, decorate the center of the flower with a gold bead! Make plenty to arrange into a wreath, or use them as casual gifts.
Origami Christmas tree
This is a simple Christmas tree made with origami.
Its simplicity allows for a wide range of customization, and the key is that you can express originality through decorations.
Fold green origami paper into a pointed triangle to create the base, then add embellishments like rhinestones or stickers.
It’s important to have a crease down the center of the triangle—this clearly conveys the trunk of the tree and gives it a sense of dimension.
Whether you use decorations that suggest the spread of the branches or ones that evoke festive ornamentation, the personality of the tree will come through depending on which aspects you choose to emphasize.
pine cone
This project recreates the stepped layers of a pine cone by stacking pieces of construction paper.
Fold an accordion crease into a sheet of paper, secure the center, glue both ends, and form a bumpy circle.
Insert small pieces of paper between layers, stack and glue circular pieces—some with trimmed edges or in varying sizes—and attach a string at the end to complete the pine cone.
Using construction paper makes it sturdy, while origami paper gives it a softer look.
Rather than displaying them individually, it’s recommended to incorporate them into Christmas tree decorations or line several up for display.
[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended in December (111–120)
Easy to make! Drawstring pouch with lining
This is a lined drawstring bag that’s easy to make because you don’t need to finish the raw edges.
Why not try making a Christmas-themed gift using different fabrics for the outer and lining? After pressing a crease into the outer fabric with an iron, place it together with the lining and sew the left and right sides with a sewing machine.
Press the seam allowances open with an iron, realign the fabrics, then sew while leaving an opening for turning and an opening for the drawstring casing.
Trim the corners, close the turning opening, and insert the lining inside.
Shift the outer fabric slightly toward the lining side, press the fold with an iron, sew the drawstring casing, thread the cord through, and you’re done.
Candle house made from a milk carton
It’s a house-like decoration made from a milk carton.
You place a candle-style light inside, and the glow visible through the windows is the charm.
The steps are simple: open the milk carton, cut it to match the light’s height, punch out window openings, then close it to form a roof with the white side facing outward.
A key point is attaching cellophane over the window areas; the choice of color changes the impression of the light that shines through.
Besides the simple pattern of a white house that highlights the light, decorating the white house with illustrations or ornaments is also recommended.