Easy origami that delights the elderly. Enjoy a heart-lifting time with seasonal origami.
Origami is a wonderful hobby that lets you enjoy the charm of the seasons.
Seasonal creations—like spring clovers, summer festival coats (happi), and autumn maple leaves—have a mysterious way of warming the heart.
Here, we introduce seasonal origami that can be enjoyed together with older adults.
Beyond their visual beauty, these activities can also help stimulate the brain through fingertip movements.
Most of the designs are simple and easy to fold, so seniors can join in comfortably.
They’re perfect for facility events or spending quality time with family.
We hope you enjoy a lovely moment through origami.
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Origami of Animals and Insects (11–20)
firefly
Fireflies are insects that magically color the night in early summer.
How about making one out of origami? You’ll mainly use black origami paper for the body, and prepare a little red paper for the head and yellow paper for the glowing tail.
The folding for the body is relatively simple, so you should be able to finish it quickly.
At the end, attach a small circle cut from the yellow paper to the tail, and it’s done.
It looks lovely to make many small ones and stick them on a window, or place them against a background that mimics a waterside scene.
It’s a seasonal origami craft that lets you feel a touch of coolness.
Simple goldfish
Though origami goldfish may sound difficult, this version is relatively easy to make.
To briefly explain the steps: start by folding a kabuto (samurai helmet), which is a popular and commonly folded model, and stop partway through.
Turn it sideways and squash-fold it.
Make a small cut where the fins will be, then reverse-fold that section to finish.
Try using colors that resemble real goldfish, like red, orange, or black.
It’s also fun to let them “swim” on blue construction paper, or cut strips of origami to make algae and stick them on a glass window for a cool, refreshing look.
butterfly
Butterflies are creatures we see more often with the arrival of spring, and the way they flutter softly conveys a sense of warmth.
This piece recreates a butterfly with origami, aiming for a three-dimensional finish that also captures its softness.
The base uses creases that divide the whole sheet into four sections; using these as guides, fold symmetrically from the smaller lower wings upward.
The final step—pinching the center crease so it pops out on the back side—is also important.
By setting the wing angles and emphasizing the three-dimensional shape here, you can create a lively, dynamic butterfly.
Cute dog origami
This is a cute, three-dimensional dog mascot in a “down” pose, lying on the ground with only its head lifted.
The face and body parts are made separately using the same color, and the whole body is completed by assembling them at the end.
A key point is to make crisp, precise folds to create the dog’s rounded form.
Once you draw the expression on the face part, it’s done—you can use stickers, or have fun drawing your own expression with a pen.
When decorating, pay close attention to the cute facial features and the angles of the head and limbs.
Hoppy Frog
I think many origami creations are often enjoyed as decorations, but if they include a way to play with them, you can enjoy them for longer.
This is a frog mascot that you can keep playing with even after you make it, featuring a fun, bouncy hopping motion.
You fold a rectangular sheet of origami paper and shape it into a frog, and by carefully aligning the creases, you create the springiness needed for it to jump.
To better enjoy the hopping mechanism, it’s recommended not to press the creases too hard on purpose and to finish it with an overall soft touch.
crab
Let’s make a cute crab with a single sheet of origami! First, crease the diagonals and the vertical and horizontal lines, then collapse along the creases into a triangle.
With the tip pointing toward you, lift the left flap, fold it inward on a diagonal, and return it to the left.
Do the same on the right side and return it.
Next, fold down the top edge by a few millimeters, then fold the corners up on a diagonal.
Tuck the pointed bottom section inside, flip it over, and your crab is complete! Add eyes with stickers and draw a pattern on the crab’s belly with a pen before displaying it.
Bee
April, when we can feel the warmth, is also the time when insects become active.
It’s a season when many flowers bloom, so you’ll often see bees flying around fields and meadows.
Bees can seem scary because they sting, but how about cute honeybees? Some older adults might enjoy folding them with origami.
We’ll fold the face and body using separate sheets of paper.
Giving the overall shape a round look will make the piece feel cuter.
Add antennae and wings, and don’t forget to draw the black stripes that are characteristic of bees.
You can display it on the wall together with flower crafts, or attach it to other pieces like a wreath—both are recommended.
