Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.

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.

[For seniors] Creating a March calendar: Introducing spring-inspired motifs and arrangements (31–40)

bamboo shoot

Introducing an easy way to fold a bamboo shoot with origami! Why not fold some during the spring season and use them as decorations? [Ori-Tsuku]

bamboo shoot

Bamboo shoots, which you often see around springtime.

It’s the season when they’re sold not only in bamboo groves but also at supermarkets and greengrocers.

Bamboo shoots are one of spring’s seasonal flavors.

Some older adults may look forward to freshly harvested bamboo shoots in spring.

Let’s make a calendar that perfectly matches the spring image using bamboo shoots.

Make bamboo shoots out of origami or construction paper and stick them onto a calendar.

You’ll create a calendar with a spring feel.

You can also use the bamboo-shoot pieces made from origami or construction paper to make wreaths and other various crafts.

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horsetail

[Cute Origami] How to Fold Horsetail (Origami Time)

horsetail

In spring, horsetails sprout up vigorously everywhere, giving off a sense of vitality—they’re a cheerful little symbol of the season just to look at.

Horsetails made from origami are perfect as decorations to stick on a calendar, too.

If you cut the origami paper into long, thin strips beforehand, it’s easier for everyone to fold together.

The folding method is simple, but the hakama (the jointed sheath sections) are the key detail.

Since the back side’s color will show in the finished piece, using double-sided origami paper or kraft origami is recommended.

Make several, and draw faces on a few of them to make them even cuter!

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Calendar in patchwork

Handmade is fun! Perpetual calendar #shorts #PatchworkHarmony

Calendar in patchwork

This is a charming patchwork calendar that makes great use of lots of little square fabric scraps.

The quilted texture is soft and soothing—just looking at it is comforting, isn’t it? The colors and patterns that change day by day are pop and fun, and if you add snap buttons to each date piece, you can use it all year round.

When you attach the dates with the buttons, it’s even more enjoyable if you think of exciting events as you go—like “The 3rd is Hinamatsuri” or “The 14th is White Day!”

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Sakura mochi

[Spring Origami] Easy and Cute Sakura Mochi Folding / Origami Sakura Mochi

Sakura mochi

Simply sticking origami with spring-themed motifs onto a plain calendar can instantly transform it into an exciting spring-season calendar.

Sakura mochi, a traditional Japanese sweet enjoyed when the cherry blossoms bloom, has a soft, fluffy texture that feels very spring-like and is so familiar it’s even used as a seasonal word in haiku.

Its pink color is bright and festive, so it’s highly recommended.

Both the mochi part and the leaf part have simple folding methods, so you can try them casually.

For the leaf, use slightly muted green origami to create the right atmosphere.

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plum blossoms

Origami [Plum Blossom]: How to Make an Origami Plum Blossom.

plum blossoms

Here’s an introduction to a calendar featuring plum blossoms that convey an elegant feel with their soft hues.

The small, round shape of plum blossoms has a charm that’s distinct from cherry blossoms.

Since March includes the Doll’s Festival (Hinamatsuri), a calendar that pairs hina dolls with plum blossoms would be lovely as well.

Creating plum blossoms or hina dolls can also help older adults feel the season.

Incidentally, plum trees are among the earliest to bloom each year, flowering after enduring the harsh winter.

Because of their resilience, plum blossoms are said to ward off illness and are considered auspicious flowers that symbolize longevity.

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[For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements (41–50)

Hina dolls

When it comes to major events in March, some older adults may think of the Peach Festival (Hinamatsuri).

Here’s a calendar featuring the Emperor and Empress dolls as a Hinamatsuri motif.

You can make hina dolls out of origami and attach them to the calendar.

Of course, you can also cut colored paper into the parts of the dolls and glue them on instead of using origami.

Creating the hina dolls might prompt some people to remember festivals they’ve spent with family.

Talking about those memories could make for lively conversation while working on the calendar.

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In conclusion

We introduced how to make calendars featuring motifs unique to March, such as bush warblers, rapeseed blossoms, and Hina dolls. Creating with origami and construction paper offers the joy of moving your fingers, and displaying the finished pieces in your room brings a breath of spring into everyday life. Please take your time savoring the changing seasons with calendars that reflect each older adult’s individual sensibilities.