[For Seniors] Lovely Christmas Crafts: Easy Ideas Using Recycled Materials and 100-Yen Shop Supplies

Christmas tree made with an eraser stamp

[Eraser stamps] I’m making a December calendar with Christmas stamps 🎄

Eraser stamps are a lot of fun, even if you feel a little sorry for the eraser itself.

A similar activity might be the rubber block prints we made in elementary school art class, right? I remember carving the zodiac animals to use on New Year’s cards.

If you’re good with your hands, making a calendar with eraser prints would be great, too.

Try carving Christmas-related motifs like fir trees, stars, presents, and snow.

Your sense of style will show in how you combine them and arrange the colors.

And please be very careful with the carving tools!

Simple Christmas decorations

[Christmas Origami] Easy! Cute Santa, Reindeer, Tree, and Snowman Folding Instructions / Christmas Decorations Ornaments – Origami Christmas Ornament

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

Making a December calendar ⭐

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)

[Origami] Easy and Cute Snowman and Igloo Folding Tutorial / Winter Origami Decorations for Christmas

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?

reindeer

[Christmas Origami] Easy and Cute Reindeer Folding Method – Origami Christmas Reindeer, Winter Origami Decorations

Did you know that Santa’s animal companion was originally a camel? It’s the kind of tidbit you’ll want to share, right? Influenced by Christianity that emerged in northern regions, the companion shifted to the more familiar reindeer instead of a camel.

Come to think of it, their colors and presence feel somewhat similar.

Making a reindeer out of origami sounds fun, doesn’t it? It could even steal the spotlight on your calendar, outshining Santa! There’s also a video that gives a detailed tutorial on how to fold it, so please check it out for reference!

Country-style Christmas wreath

[100-Yen DIY] Make a Christmas Wreath with Dollar-Store Items and Fabric Scraps | Country-Style Wreath from Leftover Fabric and a Hanger | How to Make a 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.

Christmas tree

Sky-blue tissue paper Christmas tree – Paper 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!