[For Seniors] Handmade gifts they’ll love: a roundup of simple ideas

A page-a-day calendar you can make with materials from the 100-yen shop

Super easy! How to make a desktop calendar using materials from a 100-yen shop

When you go to a 100-yen shop, don’t you ever think, “They even have this?” You can find all sorts of things at 100-yen stores.

So let’s use some 100-yen items to make a daily tear-off calendar.

Start by adding the dates to sheets of paper.

For the date cards, you can turn the numbers into coloring pages, or print them out using a different font for each day.

Use cardstock to make a decorative backing for the cards.

If the calendar can stand on its own, you can place it in small spaces around the room.

Older adults can also take the finished piece home and display it in their own rooms.

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Nakajima Junko

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One doodle a day in a relaxed style

Creating a daily page in Yurumoji style for a tear-off calendar

The shape of letters and the font can change the impression even when it’s the same character.

Here’s a calendar created with “yuru-moji,” a relaxed, gentle lettering style that gives a soothing feel when you look at it.

Yuru-moji features rounded forms and variations in letter size.

If you prepare some yuru-moji examples in advance and let older adults choose and write in the style they like, it may be easier for them to participate.

Yuru-moji is also recommended for those who aren’t confident in drawing.

Yuru-moji written with just a brush pen becomes an art piece on its own.

With just a touch of color added to the calendar paper with the lettering, you can create a lovely calendar.

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Nakajima Junko

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A daily flip calendar made with a corkboard

[Materials Included] How to Make a Handcrafted Tear-off Daily Calendar

Here’s a tear-off daily calendar made with a corkboard.

Corkboards are handy for pinning photos, notes, and more, and you can easily prepare one since they’re even sold at 100-yen shops.

Attach laminated date, day-of-the-week, and weather cards to the corkboard, add rings, and hang them.

It looks even nicer if you print cute illustrations or photos in advance and stick them onto the corkboard.

It’s also great for older adults—they can take the finished piece home and display it wherever they like by tying a string to the frame or setting it on a stand.

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Tear-off calendar notebook

Perpetual calendar notebook for dementia care for my father who is living in a nursing home

Let me introduce a tear-off daily calendar made with a notebook.

Write the date on each page of the notebook, then add messages or paste photos.

Ask the older adult to open the page for today’s date.

Every time they open the notebook, it’s likely to make them feel happy and delighted.

Older adults can make it themselves as a craft activity, but it’s also recommended as a gift for them.

It’s a handmade, heartfelt daily calendar.

Because it can be kept close at hand, it helps older adults stay aware of the date at any time.

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Mini mini kusudama made with 4 cm origami paper

A difficult flower kusudama made with 4 cm mini-mini origami

Here’s a kusudama made from small origami that we especially recommend for seniors who are skilled at origami.

The paper size is 4 cm.

Combine parts made with this paper size to create a mini kusudama.

Many kusudama units involve detailed folding.

When using smaller paper, you’ll use your fingertips even more dexterously.

If the senior enjoys origami, they’ll likely be able to focus and work on it intently.

With a slightly higher level of difficulty, they should feel an even greater sense of accomplishment when it’s finished.

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pomegranate

Pomegranate Kusudama: How to Make a Pomegranate (Kusudama)

We are pleased to introduce “Pomegranate,” a craft project perfect for recreational activities for older adults, featuring enjoyable rounded shapes and vibrant colors.

By creating it in three dimensions, you can express the fruit’s plumpness and texture, resulting in a piece with a substantial, eye-catching appearance.

The steps of folding, layering, and assembling provide fine-motor exercise and are expected to help prevent cognitive decline.

They can also boost concentration, allowing for a calm, focused crafting time.

It’s easy to start and is a recommended project that lets you fully enjoy the fun of making and the delight of creativity.

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kojifumi

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Sonobe-style kusudama

Origami Kusudama (Sonobe) – 12 pieces

Here is a kusudama made using the Sonobe-style unit, devised by Japanese modular origami artist Mitsunobu Sonobe.

First, modular origami is a technique in which you fold multiple identical paper parts and assemble them to create geometric works.

Since the parts are all folded in the same way, once you learn it, the folding itself should be easy.

The assembly, however, requires some tips and may feel challenging for some older adults.

Please have those around them offer support tailored to their needs and try making it together.

By changing the number of parts and how you combine them, you can create works other than kusudama as well, so why not give it a try?

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