Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Filled with wishes: Handmade ema plaque ideas using a variety of materials

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.

Ema plaques made with heartfelt wishes for the New Year are a comforting seasonal activity.

There are many ways to make them—from simple versions using origami or construction paper, to creative crafts using items like coffee filters or interlocking foam mats, and even clever designs that double as small gift envelopes.

As you work with your hands and add motifs of the zodiac or lucky charms, conversation flows naturally and smiles appear.

Why not enjoy making a one-of-a-kind, original ema while sharing your resolutions for the year?

For seniors: Filled with wishes. Introducing handmade ema (votive plaque) ideas using various materials (41–50)

Ema handmade kit

Handmade kit: Ema decoration (Daruma)

Ema handmade kit

How about a handmade ema (votive plaque) kit? The kit includes origami printed with ema and daruma patterns, string, bells, and more.

Watch the video and cut and paste the parts as you go.

It also comes with instructions, so it’s easy to get started—one of its biggest perks.

Of course, you can also use the video as a reference and create your own original version! We recommend incorporating auspicious motifs like pine, bamboo, and plum, New Year’s themes, daruma, or maneki-neko.

They’ll add a festive touch and make it feel perfectly ema-like.

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Ema plaques made with chirimen fabric stickers

Oshie Club

Ema plaques made with chirimen fabric stickers

Use chirimen fabric stickers to adorably decorate your ema plaques! Ema are an essential New Year’s item in Japan, traditionally used to write wishes or messages of gratitude and offer them at shrines.

Why not try decorating your ema with chirimen fabric stickers? You can buy ema online or at 100-yen shops, but making them from origami paper or construction paper is easy and highly recommended.

There are plenty of tutorial videos available, so give them a search.

Visiting a shrine for New Year’s may be challenging for some older adults, but handmade crafts can be enjoyed indoors.

Hanging your handmade ema on the wall will lift your spirits every time you see it.

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Hamaya and Ema

[Craft Idea] Hamaya and Ema (a ceremonial arrow used to drive off evil) Paper Straw Craft (New Year) (paper straws) (activities for seniors and preschool) (wall decoration)

Hamaya and Ema

Let’s have our seniors make their own ema (votive plaques) filled with New Year’s wishes! We’ll create a ceremonial arrow (hamaya) using paper straws together with construction paper or origami paper.

Normally, the bow part would use a wooden bow, but for this craft we’ll use paper straws.

It’s easy to prepare even during the busy year-end and New Year season.

Another highlight is that participants can write their wishes on the ema and imbue them with their personal prayers.

Craft activities are said to help develop fine motor skills and stimulate the brain.

At the start of the new year, we hope this craft will let each senior express their creativity and feel the joy and happiness of the season.

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origami ema (votive plaque)

Simple way to make an origami “Ema” plaque ~New Year’s origami~ | Japanese origami craft

origami ema (votive plaque)

Let’s make an ema—prayer plaques essential for New Year’s—using origami.

It’s important to keep symmetry in mind and form the corners crisply.

The colored side of the origami and the string attached at the top will be the front, while the back will remain white, so it could be fun to have people write their wishes on that white area.

If you’re writing wishes before folding, try adding more small reverse folds so the white area ends up larger.

For the front, it’s recommended to draw patterns or add decorations to give it a New Year’s feel.

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In conclusion

We introduced handmade ema plaques created with a variety of materials such as stamps, resin, and origami.

Incorporating auspicious motifs like the zodiac animals, Mt.

Fuji, and daruma dolls gives them a festive New Year’s feel.

You can write your wishes on them or give them as gifts, expanding the ways to enjoy them after they’re made.

Brighten the start of the new year with handmade ema and spend some heartwarming time.