Simple, Recommended Autumn Crafts for Seniors
When we think of autumn, we think of a season for appetites, the arts, and sports—and it’s also packed with seasonal events.
Here are some craft ideas that are perfect for this time of year.
We’ve included plenty of projects: ones that are fun to make, delightful to look at, and even practical items you can use after you’re done.
Using fallen leaves and nuts is especially enjoyable because you can collect them on a walk.
With your own creativity, you can make these crafts even more unique—so gather everyone and have fun making them together!
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[For Seniors] Simple Recommended Fall Craft Ideas (91–100)
Owl made of horse chestnuts and pine cones
Here’s an idea for making an owl using a pine cone, horse chestnut shells, and tree branches.
Cut off the base of the pine cone and attach sticker eyes.
Use the split horse chestnut shells to add decorative feathers, a beak, side wings, and back feathers.
Make feet on a base using small twigs, then glue on the owl body you just made.
Your pine cone owl is complete.
You’ll be cutting the horse chestnut shells with scissors, so please be careful not to get hurt.
You can also use a colored ginkgo nut for the beak.
A beautiful owl made with yarn and pine cones
Perfect for winter decorations! Here’s a beautiful owl idea that can also be used as an ornament.
Glue a looped string to the bottom of a pine cone for hanging.
Wrap yarn around your fingers several times, tie the center with string to make a bow, then attach it at the base of the string you just glued.
Add a yarn ball for the beak and a tassel-shaped piece of yarn for the back wings.
For the side wings, make pom-poms and glue them on.
For the eyes, wrap yarn around your fingers like the bow to form rings, then stitch or weave more yarn around the rings and place a black bead in the center.
Attach the eyes to the front of the pine cone, and you’re done.
Owl decorations with a focus on feathers
Let’s make an owl you can hang on the wall as a decoration.
First, cut out the owl’s base from cardboard.
Take apart a pine cone into individual scales, and start gluing them onto the base along with a tree branch.
Glue the branch to the lower part of the base, and use the pine cone scales on the other areas to create the wings.
Make two round bases for the eyes out of cardboard, then glue jute twine onto them in a spiral.
Attach the black pupils cut from felt.
Glue on the beak, add a string for hanging, and you’re done.
Maple leaf string art
Incorporating activities that people can’t usually experience into day-service craft sessions is highly recommended because it stimulates older adults! While it may not be very common in Japan, let’s try making a maple leaf with string art, which uses nails and thread to create motifs.
After hammering nails into a board in the shape of a maple leaf, you loop the thread around the tips of the leaf.
You can add your own flair depending on how you string the thread and the colors you choose, so have fun making it! It would also make a stylish interior piece and a gift that’s sure to please.
Ginkgo wall decoration
When we think of plants that turn vivid colors in autumn, ginkgo trees are just as essential as maple leaves, showing a beautiful yellow.
This is a three-dimensional decoration that lets you make those lovely ginkgo leaves with origami.
The leaves are simple—folded like a folding screen and fastened on one side—but arranging several of them together creates a bright, striking look.
By varying the leaf sizes or paying attention to the shapes of the trunk and ginkgo nuts, you can make it look even more like a real ginkgo tree, which is also highly recommended.
Ginkgo origami
November is a beautiful season when ginkgo leaves turn golden.
As the landscape’s colors calm down toward winter, the ginkgo’s golden hue catches the eye and makes you stop to admire it.
Ginkgo leaves are perfect as a calendar motif, too! You could depict an avenue of ginkgo trees like a tunnel, or cover the entire design area with ginkgo leaves.
Since ginkgo leaves can be made with origami, if you’re not confident in drawing, why not give that a try?
Autumn scenery
Chigiri-e using autumn colors like orange, pink, and yellow can really evoke the season.
For an autumn landscape chigiri-e, start by sketching Mount Fuji, a train, and autumn trees.
It’s best to draw the draft on a larger sheet of paper to make the work easier.
Tear washi paper into pieces for each part in advance.
Since washi is delicate, tear it gently.
Preparing washi that’s not too thick or too thin may make it easier for older adults to handle.
Enjoy the conversation as you create a beautiful autumn scene together.
