[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.
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[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended for December (11–20)
Simple and cute! Pinecone tree
This is a cute pinecone tree you can easily make with materials from a 100-yen shop—as long as you have a pinecone.
You can use a store-bought pinecone or one you picked up on a walk.
To make it, simply decorate the pinecone with beads and pipe cleaners however you like, then fix it to a base made from a plastic bottle cap.
Crafts that use the fingertips are very effective for seniors’ hand rehabilitation and dementia prevention.
If you’ve picked up the pinecone outdoors, be sure to sterilize it by boiling it beforehand so seniors can enjoy crafting safely and with peace of mind.
snow globe
Handmade snow globes are great as dexterity-boosting activities at nursing homes and day service centers.
To make one, glue cotton onto the jar lid.
Then glue a character or other small object onto the cotton—that’s it.
Adding glitter or liquid laundry starch is also recommended.
Increasing the amount of laundry starch makes the mixture more viscous, so adjust as you go.
Once it’s finished, turn it upside down once to make sure the character doesn’t fall off—that’s even better!
gift box
At Christmas, many people give presents to their grandchildren or friends.
That’s where a gift box comes in handy.
When you think of a Christmas gift box, most people imagine a square box, but with a bit of creativity, you can make star-shaped boxes too.
If you put the present inside and give it that way, it’s sure to be a hit! If you want to make it even more glamorous, you can decorate it with ornaments.
Origami: Snowflake
You can easily make snowflakes with white origami paper.
Since they’re crystals, aim for a hexagon: fold the paper into a triangle, then fold it into thirds like a paper napkin, and fold it in half once more.
Carefully cut out shapes you like, making sure not to tear it.
When you unfold it, you’ll see unexpectedly beautiful patterns that will likely delight with their surprise.
If you mount them on construction paper in Christmas colors like red or green, they make very stylish decorations.
shimenawa (sacred Shinto rope)
The craft I’d like you to make in December, just before the New Year, is a shimenawa (traditional New Year’s rope decoration).
First, roll up kraft paper and form it into a ring to create the rope.
Twisting it and adding small cuts will make it look more realistic.
Use washi or patterned paper to make a fan, and add chrysanthemums made from combined origami pieces to finish it off more festively.
Cut paper into the shape of an ema (votive plaque), write your goals or wishes for the coming year on it, and hang it as a decoration.
This craft provides an opportunity for older adults to reflect on the past year and spark conversation before welcoming the New Year.
Snowman made from a Yakult container
How about making cute snowman figures using containers from lactic acid bacteria drinks? First, remove the lid and the surrounding plastic film from the container.
Then cover it with white fabric—if you want to create a soft, fluffy snowman look, using quilt batting is recommended.
Once the whole surface is covered, use yarn to make a hat for the snowman.
Finally, add beads for the snowman’s eyes, nose, and other facial features, and decorate the body as you like—then it’s done! Make several and display them together to create a lively, gentle atmosphere.
[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended for December (21–30)
Santa made of felt
Here’s a handmade idea for a cone-shaped Santa Claus.
First, cut a piece of cardstock into a semicircle and roll it into a cone.
Cover it with felt in your favorite color, then glue a long, thin strip of white felt slightly above the center to represent the hat.
Cut out the face base and clothing pieces from felt and attach them as well.
For the beard, use yarn and a pen, creating it with a method similar to casting on stitches in knitting.
Once you’ve glued the beard around the face base, add eyes using rhinestones painted black and attach a larger bead for the nose.
Finally, add a star-shaped accent to the chest, and you’re done.
