[For Seniors] Simple and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items
What we introduce here are easy craft ideas for older adults.
They’re all easy to incorporate into recreational activities at senior facilities such as day service centers.
Using familiar, everyday materials, these crafts are simple to make, making it easy for seniors to give them a try.
We hope you’ll use craft-making to help stimulate both mind and body.
Since it involves using the hands, it also serves as brain training and can help prevent dementia.
Be sure to read this article and use it as a reference for craft activities.
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[For Seniors] Simple and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items (231–240)
Origami-Only Spinning Kaleidoscope
This craft uses eight colors of origami paper, creating a twirling motion that looks like a kaleidoscope.
The key is the shape of each piece: making precise, fine creases and producing uniform parts will ultimately enhance its beauty.
After unfolding the parts and connecting them in a straight line, extend both ends to link them together; once you form a large ring, it’s complete.
By fitting the parts together firmly, the shape won’t collapse when you rotate it inward or outward, and you can enjoy the beautiful pattern changes that make use of the white on the reverse side.
Origami name tag
Let me show you how to make a name tag out of origami that looks like a woven ribbon.
We’ll fold it using a rectangular piece made by cutting a square of origami paper in half.
It’s very easy to fold, so you can make two tags from one sheet, and you can even use the leftover paper for decoration.
You can place it like a place card and use it as a nameplate, or attach this ribbon tag to crafts made during an activity to write the creator’s name—it’ll look cute either way.
For the ribbon’s tail, you can either cut the notch with scissors or create it by folding, so choose whichever method you prefer.
Origami stand-up name tag
Let’s try making a cute heart-shaped nameplate out of origami.
Origami is often used as a recreational activity, right? It’s fun to enjoy origami during a rec session, and this project is also recommended as a practical craft you can use afterward.
Plain origami paper works fine, but using patterned paper makes it even cuter.
The white area on the back is where you write the name.
The key feature of this nameplate is that it stands on its own.
It’s a nameplate you can casually place on the table during a tea party or a chat.
[For Seniors] Easy and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items (241–250)
Origami Heart
This is a heart-shaped bag with a handle that can also be used as a small-item case.
Divide the origami with a crease down the middle, then shape both sides into identical hearts.
You’ll glue the two finished ends together to form the bag, so making the shapes match precisely is key to its beauty.
Finally, attach a handle using something like a mask string to complete it.
If you’re concerned about the fine creases on the inside, you might layer a lining paper before sealing the ends.
Think about how to place the folds so the heart’s curves feel natural, and experiment with a shaping method that works for you.
Origami name tag
Let’s make place card-style name plates using origami! All you need is one sheet of origami paper and a piece of white paper to write the name on.
The folding is simple overall, though there are a few slightly detailed steps—not exactly complicated, but a bit fiddly.
Once you get past those, you might find yourself wanting to make lots of them.
If you remember the steps, you can use them for family parties and other gatherings.
In the end, paste the paper with the name on top, and try decorating with cute flower stickers, lace stickers, or leftover origami scraps to give it a bright, festive look.
origami spinning top
Did you know? You can actually make a spinning top out of origami! It really spins, so you can enjoy it even after you finish making it.
Since it uses origami—a craft that’s familiar to many older adults—it’s easy to try.
It would also be great to make one for your grandchildren or friends!
Laminated pressed-flower card
Why not make a vibrant, long-lasting nameplate using pressed flowers and a laminating card? Pressed flowers might sound time-consuming, but if you use a microwave, they dry in no time—you can make pressed flowers in about a minute.
Carefully place the finished pressed flowers with tweezers onto a piece of paper with the name written on it so they don’t tear, then seal it in a laminating film to finish.
These days you can find easy-to-use laminating films at 100-yen shops, so take advantage of those.
Punch a hole and you can hang it from a bag, too.