[For Seniors] Recommended for Christmas Crafts! Simple Handmade Project Ideas
Christmas is one of the major events held in December, isn’t it?
Care facilities and day service centers often decorate their interiors to create a festive Christmas atmosphere, don’t they?
Among older adults, some may feel excited and cheerful when spending time in rooms adorned with Christmas decorations.
With that in mind, this time we’re introducing decoration ideas that can help older adults feel happy and uplifted.
We’ve gathered many ideas that have simple steps and are easy to prepare.
You can also enjoy making them together with older adults and start the fun from the preparations for the Christmas party.
Please use this article as a reference.
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[For Seniors] Recommended Christmas Crafts! Simple Handmade Project Ideas (61–70)
Simple Christmas decorations
These days, supermarkets and convenience stores start putting up Christmas decorations even before December.
It’s exciting how the year-end mood suddenly ramps up, but there’s also something a bit lonely about the year coming to a close.
How about you all? I think a calendar featuring all the Christmas characters—Santa, reindeer, snowmen—would be a lot of fun.
You can make them all, including the Christmas tree, by arranging triangles.
If there’s a chance to make it together, you could even divide up the tasks—like having Yamada-san make the reindeer.
Simple Santa Claus
Christmas has become firmly established in Japan.
In fact, until 1947, December 25 was a national holiday because it was the anniversary of Emperor Taishō’s death.
Seniors will remember that.
Speaking of Christmas, Santa Claus comes to mind.
With just red triangular paper, you can make something that already looks like Santa, so even if you’re not particularly skilled at crafts, don’t worry.
Use cotton for the beard and beige-colored paper for the face.
Giving him a cane or something might be stylish! A hat and scarf are great too—even a slightly dapper Santa is OK.
A snowman and a snow hut (kamakura)
A snow-made kamakura, and eating oden inside it—there’s really no describing that bliss.
But when you hear “kamakura,” you probably think of the city of Kamakura, right? There are many theories about the origin of the name for the snow hut, but a leading one says it comes from its resemblance to a hearth (kamado), with “kamado” having slurred into “kamakura.” There’s also a theory that it comes from enshrining Lord Kamakura Gongorō.
Try making a snowman and a kamakura out of origami and making them the stars of your calendar.
A snowman inside a kamakura—kind of surreal, isn’t it?
Country-style Christmas wreath
Perfect for Christmas decor! Here are some ideas for a country-style Christmas wreath.
When you think of Christmas wreaths, many people probably imagine green and red colors, right? This time, let’s make a special Christmas wreath using fabric scraps you have at home.
What you’ll need: a wire hanger, your favorite motifs, wire cutters, a brush and palette, adhesive, a hot glue gun, toothpicks, and more.
It’s an idea that will make you excited to finish and display your creation.
Tassel-style strap
Here’s an idea for a tassel-style strap you can make just by tying.
Prepare seven suede-like cords, and thread a strap part onto one of them.
Adjust the placement so the hardware sits in the middle, form a loop, and tie it.
Secure it with a split ring, then trim the ends of the cords to finish.
If the cords tend to fray while you tie them, wrap tape around both ends to make the process easier.
It’s simple yet stylish, making it perfect for a small gift.
Why not give it a try as a little finger exercise, too?
Christmas tree
How about making a fluffy, stylish Christmas tree using tissue paper? First, cut tissue paper in your favorite color into a rectangular piece about one-quarter the original size, then fold it in half lengthwise to make it long and narrow.
Make lots of slits along the folded edge.
After cutting the slits, open it up once, fold it back in the opposite direction of the original crease, and glue it in place.
Make several of these, then take a cone-shaped tree base made from construction paper and wrap and glue the tissue paper around it in tiers.
Finally, decorate with beads and stickers, and you’re done.
You’ll end up with a very whimsical, cute tree, so give it a try!
Ribbon mini tray
It’s handy to have a small tray for things like candy or a seal stamp, isn’t it? This time, we’ll introduce a felt mini tray you can make without sewing.
You’ll make it by bonding a square piece of felt to a piece of cotton fabric of the same size.
Since you’ll use craft adhesive, there’s no need for a sewing machine or needles.
It seems accessible for seniors as well.
Insert a ribbon between the layers of fabric and glue it in place.
When the tray is finished, tying the ribbon will complete a cute mini tray.
Bringing their own finished piece home to use may also give seniors a sense of accomplishment.
