Lovely senior life

Simple, Recommended Autumn Crafts for Seniors

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!

[For Seniors] Simple Recommended Fall Craft Ideas (221–230)

origami chestnut burr

[Craft Idea] Chestnut in its burr (November, autumn) (wall decoration) (senior recreation, occupational therapy OT, day service, childcare) (creative 3D craft) (origami) (origami DIY papercraft)

origami chestnut burr

Let’s recreate chestnuts that bear fruit in the deepening autumn—complete with their spiky burrs—using origami.

Fold an origami sheet, cut it into thin strips, then cut those strips into triangles to make individual spikes and glue them onto a circular base.

Shape the spiked base by pressing down the center so it forms a shallow nest that can hold objects; that completes the burr.

For the chestnut itself, cover a crumpled ball of paper with two shades of brown origami paper.

Make firm wrinkles in the paper to create an uneven, three-dimensional texture—that’s the key to making it look realistic.

With fine cuts and paper-crumpling motions, it’s a craft where fingertip dexterity really matters, isn’t it?

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Newspaper Art: Mushrooms

You can make real-looking mushrooms out of newspaper.

Newspaper Art: Mushrooms

When it comes to the flavors of autumn, mushrooms come to mind.

Here’s an easy way to make mushrooms using newspaper.

Because newspaper is thin and soft, it’s easy to handle even for older adults whose strength may have declined.

First, crumple a sheet of newspaper to form the mushroom cap, then drape another sheet over it to create the stem.

Adjust the size of the crumpled paper for the cap depending on the type of mushroom you want to make.

Once you’ve shaped the mushroom, finish by using glue to attach colored paper.

Enjoy the autumn atmosphere by displaying them on the wall or placing them on top of a basket as decorations.

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Morning glory vessel ornament

Easy Paper Morning Glory (with audio commentary) How to make an easy paper morning glory

Morning glory vessel ornament

Introducing a “Morning Glory Bowl Decoration” that also serves as interior decor for your room.

The morning glory made with two sheets of origami has a three-dimensional shape, making it perfect for displaying in a bowl.

The bowl is also made of origami, and the key is to use a thicker type of paper.

First, crease the origami, then fold it into the shape of a bowl.

Although the steps are detailed, dexterous seniors may enjoy making it.

Adding leaves and vines to the origami morning glory makes it look even more like a floral arrangement.

You can also arrange various origami flowers in the bowl for a lovely effect.

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Wreath of nuts and berries

How to make a wreath from nuts and berries

Wreath of nuts and berries

Autumn is the season of harvest.

You’ll likely have more chances to see various kinds of nuts, including acorns.

Let’s try making a wreath with a natural feel using those nuts.

The key step in this craft is creating the base using vines.

You’ll bend the vines and weave them into a ring, so it’s important to gather a material that’s very flexible.

Then, use a hot glue gun to attach the nuts to the base to complete the wreath.

If it’s hard to gather natural materials, you can find similar supplies at 100-yen shops, so that might be a good alternative.

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Persimmons and maple leaves

[Craft Idea] Persimmons and Maple Leaves (November, Autumn) (Wall Decoration) (Activities for Seniors, Day Service, Occupational Therapy OT, Childcare) (3D Origami) (DIY Origami) (Original/Creative)

Persimmons and maple leaves

When we see persimmons and maple leaves, we can really feel that autumn is just around the corner, can’t we? Even seniors who find it hard to go outside can fully enjoy autumn indoors by decorating their walls with persimmon and maple-leaf crafts.

This time, we’ll introduce crafts featuring persimmons and maple leaves.

All you need are simple items you likely have at home—origami paper, templates, glue, scissors, and so on.

The key is to fold the persimmons and maple leaves in a way that gives them a three-dimensional look.

Doing so will make the result more realistic.

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Autumn wall decoration

[Senior Recreation] Apple Tree, Persimmon Tree [Autumn Craft] Apple tree and persimmon tree

Autumn wall decoration

These are autumn treats—“persimmons” and “apples”—made using milk cartons and tissue paper.

Open up an empty milk carton and cut off the bottom and spout.

Next, take the remaining rectangular piece, turn it lengthwise, and cut it into 1 cm-wide strips.

Connect two strips to make a ring, then attach orange tissue paper for a persimmon or red tissue paper for an apple to form the fruit.

Use brown tissue paper for the stem and green tissue paper for the leaf, and glue them on to finish.

Adding a bit of white tissue paper for shine makes them look even more appetizing.

If you make a tree from construction paper and paste the persimmons and apples onto poster paper, you’ll have a fall-themed wall decoration ready to display!

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[For Seniors] Easy Recommended Autumn Craft Ideas (231–240)

3D origami cosmos flower

[Craft Idea] Cosmos (Sep–Oct) (Wall Decorations) (Activities for Seniors / Occupational Therapy / Early Childhood Education) (Origami) (Original Design) (DIY Papercraft) (Flower Crafts)

3D origami cosmos flower

Cosmos, a flower that represents autumn, is simple and cute when you look at each blossom individually.

But a field covered in blooming cosmos is truly overwhelming and spectacular, isn’t it? How about recreating that cosmos field by scattering three-dimensional cosmos flowers all over a wall? You can make the cosmos flowers by cutting folded origami paper; by leaving the base intact and cutting away part of it, you create a gluing tab, resulting in flowers with a three-dimensional look.

For the leaves and stems, use the technique of detailed paper-cutting with fine-tipped scissors, and be careful not to overcut.

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