[For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements
In March, when you can feel the arrival of spring, why not enjoy making calendars together with older adults? Calendars featuring March-specific motifs like dandelions, tulips, and Hina dolls not only provide pleasant fingertip stimulation through the crafting process, but also bring special joy when the finished pieces are displayed in a room.
Here, we introduce ideas that can be colorfully finished using familiar materials such as origami paper, construction paper, and yarn.
Please spend a warm, enjoyable time together, with lively conversations sparked by seasonal topics.
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[For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements (1–10)
butterfly
When winter has passed and you catch sight of dancing butterflies, it really feels like the arrival of warm spring, doesn’t it? Why not incorporate those spring-heralding butterflies into a calendar design? By making them with origami, the design gains a three-dimensional quality and becomes a striking piece.
Fold up the bottom edge of the origami paper by about 1 cm, then fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge.
Next, create a crease at the center of the paper, and use that crease to make a pleat fold to form the body.
The remaining sections on the left and right will be the wings, so fold the corners to round them.
Make the antennae with chenille stems (pipe cleaners) and attach them to complete the piece.
Hanging Hina (traditional hanging Hina doll decorations)
Speaking of big events in March, it has to be the Peach Festival (Hinamatsuri)! How about a calendar design that captures the season, featuring adorable hanging hina ornaments? Choose your favorite color of construction paper for the backing, then attach this year’s March calendar to it.
Fix a piece of cardboard to the top of the backing, punch four holes, and tie on some yarn.
Create motifs like the Empress and Emperor dolls and cranes using felt or origami, and hang them from the yarn.
It makes a lovely calendar that gently sways.
Brush-lettering art calendar – Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)
Let’s design a calendar inspired by Hinamatsuri, the March festival.
We’ll use brush lettering that gives a cute impression.
Draw the Emperor and Empress dolls and peach blossoms, and write “Yayoi,” the traditional Japanese name for March, in the center.
If there’s extra space, I think it would be lovely to add any spring-themed words you like.
Brush lettering can be a bit difficult if you’re not used to it, but in this idea the illustrations are the main focus, so please approach the design with the fun feeling of drawing pictures.
[For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements (11–20)
clover
Vivid green clover makes a nice accent among colorful flowers, doesn’t it? So let’s bring a touch of spring by sticking a four-leaf clover—said to bring good luck—onto a calendar! First, fold the paper in half vertically to make a crease, then fold both sides toward that crease.
Next, fold vertically from the other direction to create a center crease.
Fold both sides in toward that crease to make a small square.
Add diagonal X-shaped creases, then open it partway to form a shape like two boats.
Following the creases, fold each corner into a square shape, make small cuts, and fold in all the corners to finish.
If you like, add drawings such as a ladybug for an extra touch.
randoseru (Japanese elementary school backpack)
Spring is the season when fresh first graders with shiny randoseru backpacks start school.
Some seniors may have grandchildren entering school this spring.
How about celebrating the new students by making an origami randoseru and attaching it to a calendar, so you can feel the arrival of spring? Use 15 cm × 15 cm origami paper to make the backpack body, and two rectangular pieces of origami paper measuring 3.75 cm × 7.5 cm to make the shoulder straps.
Also, paste a piece of white origami inside the finished backpack body so you can write a message.
It might be nice to give your grandchild a calendar with a message as a gift!
ladybug
Here’s how to fold a ladybug to brighten up your spring calendar.
First, fold it into a triangle, then fold the left and right corners up to the top point.
Leave just the top layer and fold the tip forward toward you.
The part you flipped down will be the face.
Slightly fold the corners of that flipped section to the back.
Next, fold all four corners to the back.
Fold the top one by the same amount as the flipped section.
Fold the other three corners slightly to the back.
Finally, slightly fold the upper diagonal sections to the back, and you’re done! Add your favorite patterns with round stickers or pens.
honeybee
Let’s make an origami honeybee flying around colorful flowers and turn it into a spring-themed calendar! Take yellow origami paper and make vertical and horizontal crease lines, then fold both ends toward the center.
Fold both short sides into triangles; on one side, fold the pointed corner inward, and on the other side, fold the folded corner back again to form the bee’s stinger.
For the bee’s wings, use two smaller sheets of origami paper.
Finally, glue the body and wings together, add black origami stripes, and stick on round stickers for the eyes to finish.
You could also draw flowers on the calendar and attach your honeybee there!