[For Seniors] Craft Ideas Recommended for New Year’s and the New Year
In winter it’s cold and you tend to feel reluctant to do anything.
At times like that, try adding some fun, absorbing craft activities.
In this article, we’ll share New Year–themed craft ideas you can enjoy, perfect for the season.
New Year’s brings a festive image, and it’s the perfect time to make New Year decorations.
As a New Year craft activity, enjoy origami with auspicious motifs, or try making New Year decorations at the end of the year in preparation for the holiday.
Each idea is sure to result in a gorgeous, delightful creation!
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[For Seniors] Recommended Craft Ideas for the New Year (71–80)
New Year’s decoration made with 100-yen shop materials: Hagoita (battledore)
New Year’s decorations made using materials from 100-yen shops are a fun idea that result in lively pieces through free-form creativity and color choices.
Start by creating the shape of a battledore (hagoita) with construction paper, then apply your favorite chiyogami (decorative Japanese paper) to make it festive.
Layer and glue on various elements—large and small flowers, patterned blossoms, fans, and mizuhiki ornaments—to bring together traditional New Year motifs in a cohesive design.
The overall impression changes greatly depending on the placement of each part and the balance of colors, so it’s also enjoyable to craft while savoring a sense of nostalgia.
This is a recommended idea for older adults to help enhance the New Year spirit.
[No-Sew] Handmade Kadomatsu Decoration with Felt
![[No-Sew] Handmade Kadomatsu Decoration with Felt](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M1N7WajLPm8/sddefault.jpg)
Creations made from felt convey warmth through the nature of the material.
Even a New Year’s decoration like a kadomatsu, which is often associated with the chill of the season, can feel cozy when made from felt.
You might think felt crafts require sewing with needles or a sewing machine, but you can make them without sewing.
Instead of stitching, you attach the felt using a hot glue gun.
While handling a glue gun does require care, it seems accessible for many older adults to participate in making these.
The result is an adorable kadomatsu that would be perfect to display at home, and it would surely be appreciated as a gift for family as well.
Shimenawa decoration made with origami
A shimenawa decoration made from origami—perfect for seniors as a simple way to enjoy the New Year atmosphere.
Twist origami paper into a ring to form the base, then attach three-dimensional flowers, cords, mizuhiki, and more to complete a vivid, auspicious ornament.
By changing color combinations or experimenting with flower shapes, each participant can express their individuality.
Handling origami also exercises the fingers, and once finished, it becomes a cheerful interior piece you can enjoy by displaying it on a wall or at the entrance—an elegant idea brimming with seasonal charm.
3D origami kadomatsu: easy folding method
With simple folding methods, you can make a kadomatsu craft.
Many older adults are skilled at or enjoy origami.
Because origami uses the fingertips a lot, it stimulates the brain and helps keep it active.
For this reason, it is also used in senior facilities as a recreational activity that can help prevent dementia.
A kadomatsu craft with few complicated folds should be easy for older adults to start.
Since you can make the craft while chatting, it also helps promote communication.
Hanging decorations of pine, bamboo, and plum
The pine-bamboo-plum hanging decoration is a festive wall ornament that combines New Year-like colors with auspicious motifs.
Cut A4 construction paper into long, thin strips and use three colors—green, yellow-green, and red—to create pine needles, bamboo leaves, and plum blossoms.
Adding decorative circles gives the piece a sense of motion, and it’s charming to watch it sway when hung.
Since everything is made of paper, it’s easy to make, and the scissor and glue work is light, making it safe and suitable for older adults.
With a bit of creativity in color and arrangement, each piece can take on its own unique character.
It’s a heartwarming idea that conveys a sense of good fortune.
Shishimai decoration
A shishimai (lion dance) decoration that combines torn-paper collage with 3D parts.
Use two sheets of origami, tear them freely, and paste them onto cardstock to form a large oval.
Stick red origami in the center as the base for the face, then arrange lion-dance parts such as eyes, teeth, and mane.
Add fluffy texture with craft cotton, and thread on a bell and cord to give it a festive New Year’s touch.
The expression and color choices allow for personalized results, naturally sparking conversation among older adults.
It’s a great idea for creating a lively wall display.
Fortune-telling with an empty box
An empty-box lottery is a recommended seasonal craft that brings out playfulness using familiar materials.
Cut out the bottom of an empty Koala’s March box, make a small hole in the center, and cover it with thin paper to create the feel of a traditional lottery draw.
Attach tags like “Great Blessing” or “Good Luck” to straws and place them in the box; the sound and tactile sensation when shaking it add to the fun and can also support fine motor rehabilitation.
The process has just the right number of steps, and working while consulting with those around you naturally creates time for interaction.
It’s a charming idea that extends the fun by letting everyone share their results after making it.