[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 (111–120)
Newspaper chic shimenawa
This is a warm wreath inspired by a traditional shimenawa, making use of the soft look of crepe paper sheets that you can easily find at 100-yen shops.
Twist newspaper tightly to make a base, shape it into a circle, then wrap it with long, thin strips of crepe paper.
Once the entire base is covered so the newspaper doesn’t show, add decorations like fans and sasanqua flowers made from crepe paper to finish.
If you use reversible crepe paper, you can take advantage of the color difference between the front and back for an even more striking result—highly recommended.
Let’s write and display it: New Year’s calligraphy
If you’re looking for something to do in the New Year, I recommend kakizome, the first calligraphy of the year.
Kakizome is a custom that has been enjoyed since the Edo period, in which you write down your resolutions and goals for the year.
Not only is it fun to practice writing beautifully, but deciding on your resolutions and goals can also help you start the year with a positive mindset.
Why not give it a try while pondering which characters to write? After you finish, it would look lovely displayed on the wall.
By the way, it’s said to be especially auspicious to do kakizome on January 2.
New Year’s Mount Fuji decoration made of paper
Here’s a wall decoration idea featuring Mount Fuji, a familiar motif for the New Year.
Since it involves crafts using various types of paper—origami, cardstock, crepe paper, and more—the main tasks are cutting and pasting, making it perfect for older adults to enjoy creating.
First, apply your choice of paper to a cut piece of cardboard to make the base, then combine elements like Mount Fuji, the first sunrise of the year, and the zodiac animal for that year.
You can finish it with a traditional Japanese look using washi or chiyogami, or go for a modern Japanese vibe by pairing it with Western-style flowers—both are great! The charm of this project lies in the freedom to arrange and design it exactly the way you like.
paper plate spinning top
How about trying a “paper plate spinning top” that’s fun to play with even after you make it? Using a simple, everyday material—a paper plate—you can craft it easily, and after enjoying the making process, older adults are sure to feel like kids again as they get absorbed in spinning it! To make one, fold a paper plate in half and crease it again to form a cross, decorate it freely with markers, then tape a plastic bottle cap to the center.
It’s super easy, so it would be great for a day-service craft activity or to make and play with your grandchildren.
Tatsu Kazari
Let’s make a stylish and cute dragon decoration by simply cutting colored construction paper in a spiral! It’s an easy craft that seniors can enjoy, so feel free to use it for day-service craft activities.
To make it, draw a spiral on a square piece of colored construction paper and cut along the line with scissors—that’s it! You can customize the dragon’s head as you like.
Adding plastic dividers used for lunchboxes (baran) to the dragon’s body will enhance the look.
Attach a string to turn it into a hanging decoration, and display it in your room to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
amulet
Making omamori charms is a lovely craft that you can pour your heart into.
Using fabric and cord from a 100-yen shop, the process of creating them while infusing your wishes is very calming.
Choosing motifs that are lucky symbols for the New Year and finishing them in a festive style is a great idea, too.
Focusing while working with your hands helps exercise your mind, and the sense of accomplishment when you’re done is exceptional.
It sounds fun to make them together with everyone as well—it will surely become a wonderful memory.
Why not enjoy making them while wishing for happiness in the New Year?
Japanese-style hanging decoration for New Year
As a slightly more intricate craft idea, here’s a New Year’s Japanese-style hanging decoration.
This one uses origami to make yakko-dako kites and cranes.
A yakko-dako is a kite shaped like a person in a kimono with arms outstretched—you often see them around New Year’s.
You can also try making other Japanese motifs in origami, such as plum blossoms and folding fans.
If the fine work involved in making the yakko-dako is difficult, prepare the parts in advance and provide support as needed.
Create the pieces with origami, cut small parts with a craft knife, arrange them, and you’re done.
Hang it in your room to enjoy the look of them flying.