Easy for seniors to make! Colorful autumn origami
When you think of autumn, what comes to mind?
As the saying “autumn for the arts” suggests, it’s the season when the autumn leaves turn beautifully vibrant.
Many older adults probably want to go out for activities like leaf-peeping or grape picking.
However, some seniors don’t have many opportunities to go out.
So this time, we’re introducing origami ideas with autumn motifs that let you spend colorful days even while staying in your room.
In addition to maple and ginkgo leaves, we’ve also gathered origami themed around events like Halloween.
Be sure to read this article and use it to help with autumn origami projects for seniors.
- Recommended for seniors! Origami maple leaf ideas that capture the feeling of autumn
- [For Seniors] Autumn Origami to Enjoy in October
- [Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October
- [For Seniors] Simple Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn Season with Fall Foliage
- [For Seniors] Recommended September Origami to Feel the Autumn Season
- [For Seniors] Perfect Finger Exercises! Seasonal Flower Origami
- [Day Service] Handmade Autumn Crafts: Take-Home Project Ideas
- [For Senior Care Facilities] Easy! September Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn Season
- Enjoy the sights of autumn using just scissors! A collection of easy paper-cutting ideas
- [For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity
- [For Seniors] Fall Wall Decoration Ideas
- Craft ideas with a maple-leaf theme. Fun craft activities for seniors.
- [For Seniors] Let’s Make It Together! Wonderful November Wall Decoration Ideas
Easy for Seniors! Colorful Autumn Origami (21–30)
Paper cutouts of osmanthus flowers
Kinmokusei (fragrant orange osmanthus) is a plant that blooms with orange flowers in autumn and is known as one of Japan’s three great fragrant trees—its scent is very popular.
This project shows how to create a pattern resembling a chain of tiny kinmokusei flowers by cutting folded origami.
Fold the origami into a triangle, mark flower shapes on it, then cut along the marks and unfold to reveal a connected row of kinmokusei.
Since it can look flat on its own, it’s also recommended to layer the pieces, glue them onto a backing sheet, or add decorations like stickers to give it a more three-dimensional look.
Mural for October
Here’s an idea: fold a sheet of origami paper in half, cut it, and when you unfold it you’ll have a cute maple leaf shape.
Make lots of them and turn them into a wall decoration.
It’s great to have everyone make the same shape and size, but it could also be fun for each person to create a leaf with its own unique character.
If you want them all to match, using a template is recommended—try cutting with a printed template or one you’ve made by cutting a shape out of thick paper.
A wall covered with colorful maple leaves is a spectacular sight and makes for a decoration that really captures the feeling of autumn.
Easy for seniors! Colorful Autumn Origami (31–40)
Cute maple leaf thank-you card
How about making a cute thank-you card packed with colorful maple leaves? Draw a maple-leaf shape on a piece of origami paper folded in half, cut it out, and open it up to reveal a maple leaf! Prepare several smaller ones and stick them on the card’s cover.
Adding veins with colored pencils can give it a lovely finish.
Try various touches, like a pop-up element that appears when the card is opened or a tuck-in slot to hide a mini card.
It’s the kind of card that makes you want to give it to someone.
Grapes × Cosmos
It’s a decoration that strongly evokes the autumn atmosphere, with grapes inside a basket and cosmos flowers arranged around them.
For the grape cluster, use a sheet of construction paper cut into the shape of grapes as the base, and attach accordion-folded circles to represent the berries.
For the cosmos flowers, layer two petal pieces and attach a yellow piece in the center to complete the flower shape.
Next, create the basket weave by alternating strips of long, narrow brown origami paper, wrap it around the grapes, and place the cosmos around the outside to finish.
Each part involves detailed steps, so it’s a craft that tests concentration and fine motor skills.
Grapes & Cherries
These are soft, rounded parts shaped by gently forming a square sheet of origami.
Arrange small purple circles in a triangle to make grapes, or attach a stem to red circles to make cherries.
The key is a soft appearance—don’t press the creases too hard; fold gently to add a raised, three-dimensional look.
When making grapes, the arrangement and layering also matter; changing the order you place them helps create a sense of volume.
Combining various colors instead of using just one can also produce depth through color gradation.
Maple leaf paper cutout
Papercutting that makes your heart race when it’s finished, and the moment you open it is fun.
How about trying a papercut in the shape of a maple leaf? You can make it with any way of folding and cutting, so with a little creativity you can enjoy many different designs.
Fold it firmly with the colored side facing inward, and draw lines on the white side to match the image you want to cut out.
Be careful—it’s delicate work—so watch your fingers with the scissors, and make sure not to cut through the connecting parts.
Paste your papercut on construction paper or hang it on the wall and enjoy.
maple and lantern
Let’s make a maple-leaf lantern, a perfect item for long autumn nights! You’ll need a milk carton, wax paper, and origami paper.
Cut off the top and bottom of the milk carton and open it up, then cut out the four panels, leaving a 1–2 cm border around each side.
From the inside, attach the wax paper.
On the outside, stick on maple leaves made from origami paper.
Tape the corners of the milk carton together with cellophane tape, and you’re done.
Place an LED light, such as one from a 100-yen shop, inside.
The softly flickering light and the maple leaves projected onto it look beautiful, don’t they?