[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.
- For seniors: Decorate the December wall with a tree. Easy ideas using origami and yarn.
- [For Seniors] Lovely Christmas Crafts: Easy Ideas Using Recycled Materials and 100-Yen Shop Supplies
- For seniors: Introducing handmade decoration ideas to welcome a wonderful Christmas
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Christmas! Handmade Hanging Ornament Ideas
- [For Seniors] Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas That Feel Warm and Heartfelt
- [For Seniors] Try Making a Handmade Christmas Wreath! A Collection of Ideas Using Everyday Materials
- [For Seniors] Wall decorations to fully enjoy the seasonal atmosphere: Fun Christmas decoration ideas
- Handmade Gifts: Ideas That Will Delight Older Adults
- [Care Facilities] Popular Christmas Decorations: Handmade Ideas to Brighten Up Indoor Spaces
- [For Seniors] Perfect for winter events! Easy craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
- [For Seniors] Ideas for Winter Wall Decorations and Hanging Ornaments: Introducing Projects That Are Easy to Try
- For Seniors: Fun for Everyone! Christmas Party Activity Ideas
For Seniors: Recommended Christmas Crafts! Simple Handmade Project Ideas (11–20)
Santa Claus doll
Once December arrives, the anticipation starts to build with all the upcoming events—so exciting, right? Christmas, the biggest event of the year’s end, is something everyone can enjoy regardless of age.
How about making a fun, decorative Santa Claus doll to get ready for Christmas? You can easily make one using a toilet paper roll and items from the dollar store! Just cut the roll and attach felt.
Use craft parts from the dollar store for the eyes and nose.
Add a red Santa hat and a beard, and you’ve got yourself a splendid Santa Claus! If you don’t have felt, construction paper or origami paper works just fine, too.
stained-glass-style ornament
Beautiful stained glass can make Christmas feel more festive, right? Making real stained glass might seem daunting, but stained-glass-style decorations are easy enough for older adults to try.
Place a sheet of clear cellophane over an outline drawing, such as a Christmas tree, and trace the lines with a thick pen.
Adding stained-glass-like lines around the tree will create a beautiful finish.
Next, flip the cellophane over and color it with markers.
Filling in all the spaces makes it look more vibrant, so it’s recommended.
Finally, crumple a piece of aluminum foil, spread it back out, wrap it around a piece of thick paper, and attach the colored cellophane to it—that’s it! Even a bare wall will instantly feel Christmassy with just this one decoration.
Christmas bell made of felt
This is a bell-themed ornament with a soft, felted look that makes a strong impression.
There’s a hole inside the bell where a small jingle bell sits, so you can enjoy its sound—one of the key features.
Attach two bell-shaped pieces of felt together with the thread of the jingle bell sandwiched between them.
Then decorate the bell with a ribbon, and layer thinly cut felt at the bottom to give it a three-dimensional finish.
Matching the colors of the jingle bell and the felt bell creates a unified look, while using contrasting colors makes the jingle bell stand out.
Trying different color combinations is highly recommended.
Felt Christmas tree
When you think of big winter events, Christmas comes to mind, and when you think of essential symbols of Christmas, it’s the Christmas tree.
This project shows how to make a Christmas tree using felt.
First, use a toilet paper roll as the base and wrap it with jute twine to create a wood-like look.
Attach a piece of construction paper cut into a cone shape to that base to complete the tree’s foundation.
By sticking round-cut felt pieces onto the construction paper, it will start to look like a tree with lush leaves.
Finally, add decorations such as beads and stars, and you’ll have a soft and festive-looking Christmas tree.
You can also enjoy customizing it by changing the colors and adding your own creative touches.
ball ornament
Round-shaped decorations are attracting attention as items that can ease aggression in older adults and promote a calm feeling.
Why not choose ball ornaments—known for their round shape—for your Christmas wall decorations? The method is simple: cut construction paper purchased at a 100-yen shop to your preferred size.
Next, use a craft punch to create a Christmas tree design and glue several sheets of the paper together.
Finally, open the layered paper like petals, and you’ll have an adorable wall decoration ready to display.
Three-dimensional tree mobile
This is a three-dimensional hanging decoration inspired by the essential Christmas tree.
Prepare three pieces of paper cut into tree and star shapes, and fold each one in half.
Then glue them together at the center, punch holes at the top and bottom, and thread a string through.
You’ll have a Christmas tree with wings spreading in six directions.
A charming feature is how the spread wings catch the faint breeze in the room and spin around.
Adding small embellishments like beads can make it more festive and fun, but if it’s too heavy it won’t spin well, so it’s important to consider the balance.
[For Seniors] Recommended Christmas Crafts! Simple Handmade Project Ideas (21–30)
Acorn Totoro Santa
Perfect as a gift, too! Let’s make a tiny Totoro Santa.
First, use an acorn as Totoro’s body and draw the face and belly patterns with a pen.
Then pop on a Santa hat made from felt, and your Totoro is complete.
Arrange it in a container of your choice with pinecones, small cut pieces of green wreath, and cotton for decoration.
If you’re using acorns you picked up, be sure to wash them and boil them to disinfect and prevent insects.
If you attach a key chain to the acorn, it could work as a strap/keychain as well.
