For seniors: Heartwarming and cozy. Recommended handmade Hina dolls
Hinamatsuri is an event filled with the wish for girls to grow up healthy and happy.
On March 3rd, many families traditionally display Hina dolls and celebrate.
In this article, we introduce handmade Hina doll ideas especially for seniors.
One-of-a-kind handmade Hina dolls have a warm, charming feel, don’t they?
The Hina dolls featured here are all easy to make using familiar, readily available materials, so please feel free to use them as inspiration.
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[For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy. Recommended Handmade Hina Dolls (51–60)
Hina dolls placed on a table, gently swaying
An easy Hinamatsuri decoration idea that seniors can enjoy: thread pipe cleaners through a paper cup to make a hanging ornament.
Draw illustrations on a paper cup with pens or stickers, then make a hole in the center of the cup’s bottom.
Twist three pipe cleaners together from about 2 cm up to the halfway point, and thread them through the hole in the paper cup.
Secure the pipe cleaners on the inside, then wrap their ends around a pen to form the base.
Tape on decorations made from construction paper and add gradient pom-poms; once decorated, you’ll have a gently swaying tsurushi-bina (hanging Hina doll) ornament.
plum blossoms
Plum blossoms have long been beloved by the Japanese as flowers that herald the arrival of spring.
Because they announce the start of the season, they are considered auspicious.
Their Chinese characters also carry the meaning of bringing abundance, which adds to their good fortune.
As flowers to accompany Hina dolls, which are displayed with wishes for children’s health and growth, plum blossoms are a perfect choice.
This origami plum blossom is easy to make with simple steps.
There is a step where you use scissors to shape the petals, so please handle them with care.
Make lots of them and enjoy arranging them in different ways, such as creating a garland or making a wreath by attaching them to a backing.
No-sew Hina dolls
Here’s how to make no-sew Hina dolls.
Prepare felt, wooden beads, and construction paper, and give it a try.
Cut the felt according to the template and glue together the kimono for the male and female dolls.
If you slightly offset the felt pieces as you glue them, the kimono will look neat when wrapped into shape.
Draw hair on the wooden beads, then glue them onto the kimonos to assemble the heads and bodies.
For the male doll, make an eboshi (cap) from construction paper and attach it to the head, then add the shaku (ritual scepter) to finish.
For the female doll, place the crown and give her a fan to complete.
It’s a perfect craft for practicing fine motor skills, so be sure to give it a try!
Tsurushi-bina made with materials from a 100-yen shop
The Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri) comes from parents’ wishes for their children to grow up healthy.
The hanging hina decorations introduced here are easy to make, since you can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop.
Did you know that each part of a hanging hina has its own meaning? The peach symbolizes longevity, the strawberry wards off misfortune, the rabbit repels evil, and the dumpling signifies not having trouble with food, among other important origins.
Made with adhesive fabric paper that has a chirimen (crepe) look, the result is a charming, atmospheric ornament.
The ceiling-hanging style is also nice because it doesn’t take up floor space and can go almost anywhere.
[For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy: Recommended Handmade Hina Dolls (61–70)
Hina dolls made with toilet paper rolls and origami
This craft uses toilet paper rolls that you might otherwise throw away to make Hina dolls.
It requires very few materials, so if you’re looking for a Hinamatsuri craft, definitely give it a try! The basic method is simply to decorate cut toilet paper rolls with origami or Japanese-patterned paper.
Rounding the corners of the rolls gives them a cute look! You can also make the kimono sleeves three-dimensional to add a touch of elegance.
Since this is a highly flexible craft, try creating your own original Hina dolls!
Bonbori (lanterns) made with toilet paper rolls and origami
Let’s make a “bonbori” lantern that gently lights up on either side of the Emperor and Empress dolls.
If you have a toilet paper roll and origami paper ready, you can make one easily.
The main body of the lantern is made from a toilet paper roll, while the glowing flame and decorative patterns are created with origami.
Using your favorite origami will give you colorful, unique lanterns.
You’ll cut the toilet paper roll into the shape of the lantern, but please handle scissors with care.
You could also pre-cut the rolls into lantern shapes and have older adults assemble them.
Once finished, you’ll have a sweet piece that glows softly and gently.
Hanging Hina dolls made from paper plates and paper cups
How about making hanging Hina ornaments with paper plates and paper cups for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)? You’ll need paper cups, paper plates, scissors, pens, stickers, and so on.
First, put stickers on the paper cups.
Then make some slits with scissors and decorate them cutely.
It’s also recommended to draw pictures and add fabric or ribbons for extra flair.
It’s great for seniors to make them together while sharing memories of Hinamatsuri, as it helps stimulate the brain.
Once finished, displaying them by the window might make them stand out nicely.