[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] Easy and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items (41–50)
Horse Play Craft
This is a unique craft idea that uses yarn to create a mane.
You’ll need construction paper, yarn, cardboard, and cooking chopsticks.
Draw a horse’s face, ears, and mane on the construction paper and cut along the lines.
Prepare two pieces each for the face and ears.
After gluing the parts together, attach the yarn to the mane.
Using a craft punch to make evenly spaced holes will make this easier.
Fold the yarn in half, pass the loop through a hole, then pull the loose ends through the loop to secure it.
Thread two strands of yarn through each hole.
After attaching the eyes and nose, place a piece of cardboard between the layers to make it sturdy and secure the cooking chopsticks.
Decorate with cute embellishments to finish.
It’s a project that would likely be a delightful gift for your grandchild.
A trivet woven from toilet paper rolls
A simple-to-make trivet woven using toilet paper rolls has a warm, original feel.
Prepare the materials: disposable chopsticks, toilet paper rolls, cellophane tape, yarn, and a needle.
First, make the base for weaving the trivet using the toilet paper rolls.
Cut the chopsticks in half and tape them vertically around the toilet paper roll, spacing them evenly.
Once that’s ready, string the yarn in an alternating pattern to form the base.
Next, gently loop the yarn over the chopsticks so it sits on top; the key is to drape the yarn lightly and loosely.
Hook the yarn onto the needle and weave around in circles until it forms the shape of a trivet, and you’re done.
Using colorful yarn will give you a bright, cheerful trivet.
A mat woven with anti-slip sheets
Many people use non-slip mats to prevent shifting at the entrance or in the bathroom.
If you use a non-slip sheet with small holes, you can make a knitted mat by taking advantage of those holes.
Thread yarn through the holes in the sheet and keep knitting.
Layer another non-slip sheet on top and crochet the edging around both sheets together.
Add a frill to complete a cute, furry-looking mat.
Since the steps aren’t too complicated, it seems like something you could make with your child.
The frilled design also gives it a princess-like feel, so children who love princesses are likely to enjoy it.
A fluffy, cozy pouch woven from cardboard
A fluffy, fuzzy pouch you can use for cosmetics or quick outings.
You’d never guess it was woven with cardboard.
Cut slits into both ends of a piece of cardboard and glue chopsticks to it.
Thread yarn through the slits and wrap it around the cardboard.
Using yarn attached to the chopsticks, weave over-under, over-under along the threaded yarn—similar to how you’d use a loom.
Once you’ve woven a sufficient length, cut it free from the cardboard.
Make two woven panels and tie the yarn at the ends to join them.
Turn it inside out, insert an inner pouch, add decorations, and you’re done.
Try making one with fluffy yarn!
Cushions woven from cardboard
A cute cushion woven with cardboard feels nice to the touch and can be easily made with everyday materials.
Get your yarn, cardboard, chopsticks, and a comb ready.
Trace a heart shape made from construction paper onto the cardboard and cut it out.
Make small, frequent slits around the heart with scissors and hook the yarn onto them.
Next, use the chopsticks to weave the yarn so it goes over and under alternately; using a comb as you work will help the process go smoothly.
Tie off the yarn, trim it, and remove the piece from the cardboard.
Make a second heart of the same shape, stack the two together, and stitch around the edges with yarn.
Stuff generously with filling, and you’re done.
It’s a great project for parents and kids to enjoy together, so give it a try!
A placemat woven from cardboard
Add color to your table with a placemat you make yourself.
Create an easy yarn placemat using a cardboard loom.
Tape the edges of the cardboard with duct tape, cut small slits along the edge, then thread yarn into the slits.
The duct tape reinforces the cardboard when you cut it and when you thread the yarn.
After threading the yarn through the slits and wrapping it around, begin weaving.
When weaving, pass the yarn through a dedicated shuttle or a piece of cardboard.
Try changing the yarn color partway through to give it a different look.
When you finish weaving, tie the yarn at both ends to complete your placemat.
A scarf woven from milk cartons
With an empty milk carton and some disposable chopsticks, you can make a knitted scarf.
Cut several chopsticks in half and attach them to the milk carton.
Now you’ve got a simple loom.
You can also use thin black bobby pins instead of chopsticks, but the chopsticks are easier to knit with.
By threading the yarn through the chopsticks in sequence, you can knit, so even young children can make a project.
As the knitting progresses and the scarf grows longer and longer, kids will probably get excited watching it.
When you’re finished, add yarn pom-poms to complete a cute scarf.