![[For Seniors] Easy and Fun! Tsumami Zaiku Craft Ideas](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dBNfSYJbQ8w/sddefault.jpg)
When you hear “tsumami zaiku,” do you picture something difficult?
This article is perfect for anyone who feels that way.
We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas—from easy, beginner-friendly methods to elaborate creations!
Because you assemble many small parts, it helps build concentration and is also effective for finger dexterity and dementia prevention.
And since it involves detailed work, the sense of accomplishment when you finish a piece is exceptional.
There are many lovely projects, so do try making chirimen crafts together with older adults.
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[For Seniors] Simple and Fun! Tsumami Zaiku Ideas (1–10)
Summer decorations
This is a summer decoration: a morning glory made with tsumami-zaiku.
Fold a piece of chirimen fabric into a triangle, then fold one side over to the opposite sides.
After cutting it in half, fold it so the inside flares outward to complete a single petal.
Attach white stamens and pistils to the center, and it will look like a real flower.
Gather several together to form a morning glory.
Cover a base with fabric, attach a wind catcher with a string, and the wind chime decoration is complete.
You can also connect them with string and hang them on a wall, or group them on a bamboo lattice for an even more summery feel!
temari (Japanese handball/embroidered decorative ball)
Make a temari ball using Styrofoam and chirimen fabric.
First, use a measuring tape to mark six equal divisions on the Styrofoam sphere.
These marks will serve as guides for drawing six vertical sections.
Once the marks are in place, make slits along them.
Fit a piece of chirimen fabric to one of the six sections and press it into the slit along the guide.
Trim any excess fabric with scissors.
Fill the remaining five sections in the same way with fabrics of different colors.
Finally, align and attach a cord from the center along the slits, and you’re done.
Once you get the hang of it, try changing the color scheme to enjoy your own personal style!
Sakura Bouquet
It’s a glamorous and cute cherry blossom bouquet.
Just having one brightens up the space—place it next to Hina dolls or use it as a wall decoration! It’s very easy to make.
For the cherry blossom tsumami-zaiku, start with square chirimen fabric.
Fold it into a triangle and glue it to form petals.
After gluing the petals together, add the stamens and pistils in the center.
Attach chirimen fabric to the bottom of the finished flower and add green leaves.
Then glue the flowers onto a Styrofoam ball.
It’s also fun to vary the color and size of the petals to enjoy different looks!
Beginner-friendly round tsumami (kanzashi)
Doesn’t tsumami-zaiku seem intricate and difficult? This video introduces the basic round fold (maru-tsumami) for beginners.
If you don’t have glue specifically for tsumami-zaiku, regular craft glue will work as a substitute.
Follow the video to make the petals.
Since it involves detailed work, we recommend using tweezers.
Once you’ve made five petals, spread glue on another piece of chirimen fabric and arrange the petals at equal intervals.
Open each petal and adjust the shape.
Create the flower center, trim off any excess fabric, and you’re done.
Tsumami-zaiku can help with fine motor exercise and dementia prevention, so please consider it as a recreational activity for older adults!
plum blossoms
Plum blossoms announce the arrival of spring.
When they bloom, it lifts your spirits, doesn’t it? Let’s try making these plum blossoms with chirimen (crepe) crafts! They may look difficult at first glance, but they’re actually made only with the round pinching technique, so once you master that, they’re easy to create.
Use red chirimen fabric to make round-pinched petals.
After attaching them to the base, the lower layer is complete.
Then, use slightly smaller pink chirimen fabric to make the upper flowers, and combine them with the lower flowers to finish.
They look adorable as keychains or hair accessories, too.
Seniors are sure to enjoy them as well.
We hope you’ll have a wonderful time through tsumami crafting.
Santa and the Reindeer
Here’s how to make Santa and a reindeer.
They’re essential for the Christmas season! You’ll need styrofoam and chirimen fabric.
First, cut a circle out of construction paper, wrap it with chirimen fabric, and glue it down.
Next, take a red square of chirimen fabric, fold it into a triangle twice, and finally fold one side over to the opposite sides.
Make several of these and attach them to the base you made first.
Using the same steps, make white triangles and tuck them into the red triangles.
Once the base is done, cover styrofoam with chirimen fabric to create Santa’s and the reindeer’s heads.
For Santa, add eyes, a beard, glasses, and a hat.
For the reindeer, add eyes, a nose, ears, and antlers.
Place both on the base and you’re done! They’ll look adorable perched on a table or any small surface.
hydrangea
Here’s an idea for making a hydrangea with tsumami-zaiku.
The materials are styrofoam, chirimen fabric, and a straw.
Wrap the chirimen fabric around a styrofoam ball to form the main body.
Trim any excess fabric to make a neat sphere.
Likewise, wrap chirimen around a straw to create the stem.
For the joint between the body and the stem, slit the stem lengthwise and glue it in place.
Next, take a square piece of chirimen, fold it into a triangle twice, and finally fold one side over to both opposite sides to form a petal.
Make several petals and glue them together to complete the flower.
Cut out green leaves as well and attach them to the sphere.
Can you picture the hydrangea’s characteristic look with its many petals?