[For Seniors] Making a January Calendar: Fun Craft Ideas Using Milk Cartons and Origami
January marks the beginning of a new year.
Many of us may feel a sense of hope when we see a brand-new, blank calendar.
This time, we’re introducing calendars that are perfect for January.
Along with ideas for coloring-page calendars and origami displays featuring lucky motifs like daruma dolls, kadomatsu, and beckoning cats, we’ve also included a perpetual calendar you can enjoy all year round.
One of the charms of handmade calendars is how you can express your individuality through the way you write the numbers and use color.
And by looking at your handmade calendar every day, daily life might feel a little more fun.
We hope you’ll spend a warm, creative time together with older adults, crafting pieces that are perfect for the New Year.
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas: Boost Your Luck with New Year Decorations and Good-Luck Charms
- [For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
- [For seniors] A handmade calendar you’ll want to make in February
- [For Seniors] Handmade calendar for December: motifs that make you feel excited and joyful
- [For Seniors] Make Every Day Fun! A Collection of Handmade Tear-off Calendars
- For Seniors: Making a September Calendar — Recommended Motif Ideas
- [For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements
- Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
- [For Seniors] Making October Calendars: A Roundup of Recommended Motifs
- For seniors: Snowman crafts to brighten January wall displays—fun ideas using origami, paper plates, and papercutting.
- [For Seniors] Craft Ideas Recommended for New Year’s and the New Year
[For Seniors] January Calendar Crafting: Fun Project Ideas Using Milk Cartons and Origami (1–10)
Origami Calendar: Kagami Mochi
Kagamimochi, which is offered at New Year as a sacred stand-in for the Toshigami deity.
Believe it or not, you can make it easily with origami! It also works as a January calendar design, so give it a try and enjoy the New Year atmosphere.
In this idea, you’ll use three sheets of origami paper to create the parts—“mochi,” “sanpō” (the offering stand), and “mikan”—and then assemble them into a kagamimochi.
The steps are simple, featuring basic folds like valley-pleat (dan-ori) and cushion fold (zabuton-ori), making it suitable for everyone from children to seniors.
Origami Calendar: Kadomatsu
During the New Year season, kadomatsu decorations are often displayed at the main entrances of large buildings.
Some of you may remember having them at your own homes’ gates when you were little.
Kadomatsu is a perfect motif for a January calendar.
This origami idea not only shows how to fold a kadomatsu, but also includes instructions for a festive fan and plum blossoms.
Why not try making them and using them as the main design for your calendar? Since combining all the parts adds thickness, be sure to adhere them firmly when using them in your design.
January coloring calendar
@warabi2022 They did some coloring on a January calendar for us. We’ve also put the finished pieces up in their own room. Seeing them every time they go in and out helps improve orientation, and above all, since they drew them themselves, they feel attached to them. 😊 Many thanks to the staff member who suggested it! ✨JanuaryColoring bookone-of-a-kindorientation#cuteSmileLovelyTranslationThank you very much.TranslationCaregiverRehabilitationNurse
Subtitle – Official HIGE DANDism
There are many coloring pages available online that you can download for free.
How about using some of those to make a January calendar? You’re free to enjoy coloring however you like—go with classic colored pencils, or use paints, crayons, or even cosmetics to express your colors.
Once you finish your coloring page, attach it together with the calendar section onto a backing sheet and display it on your wall.
Choose New Year’s or winter-themed designs to create.
[For Seniors] January Calendar Crafting: Fun DIY Ideas Using Milk Cartons and Origami (11–20)
Origami Calendar: Daruma
The daruma, a popular New Year’s decoration symbolizing good luck, is a perfect motif for a January calendar as well.
You can make this idea with a single sheet of origami: leave space for the face, then simply fold the corners and edges inward.
There are no complicated folds or steps, so give it a try.
For the expression and patterns on the daruma, use round stickers or draw them with a pen.
While daruma are traditionally red, the charm of handmade crafts is in the ability to customize—so feel free to make it in any color you like.
Origami Calendar: First Sunrise of the Year
Let me show you a New Year’s first sunrise scene expressed with origami.
You’ll make three parts: Mount Fuji, the sun, and clouds.
For Mount Fuji, fold the origami into a triangle to make a crease, open it, then make a step fold on the top corner to represent snow.
Fold the remaining edges and corners inward to shape it like Mount Fuji.
For the sun, start with a cushion fold (zabutons), then fold the corners into triangles to round it off.
For the clouds, fold into a triangle to make a crease, then fold the two left edges in along the crease, fold the left corner into a triangle, and form an isosceles triangle.
From there, offset the fold slightly from the crease and fold in half, then fold the corners twice to refine the cloud shape.
If you make them with origami sized to fit your backing paper, you can also use the design for a calendar.
Origami Calendar: Hagoita Paddle and Shuttlecock
Hanetsuki is a traditional New Year’s game that has long been loved in Japan.
The items used for it are the hagoita (paddle) and the shuttlecock.
Here are origami ideas for making a hagoita and a shuttlecock.
The hagoita is made by separating it into the hitting surface and the handle, and the shuttlecock is made by separating it into a weighted base and three feathers.
Each can be made with just a few folds, so even those who aren’t confident with handcrafts should enjoy making them.
However, since these are designed to be a bit large, if you want to use them in a calendar design, it might be better to use slightly smaller origami paper.
Perpetual calendar made from a milk carton
Here’s an introduction to making a perpetual calendar out of milk cartons.
Milk cartons are usually made of thick paper and often come in a rectangular shape.
Using that characteristic, we’ll create a cube-shaped perpetual calendar.
Cut and fold the milk cartons so they form perfect squares.
Paste construction paper on the sides, and attach a sheet with the month written on it.
Using the same method, make cubes for the days of the week and the dates, then combine them to complete the calendar.
Changing the cubes every day might be enjoyable for older adults as well.
Some seniors may experience difficulties recognizing the correct date, time, or season.
By updating the calendar daily, it can help them stay aware of the date.
