[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] Let’s Make New Year Decorations by Hand! A Collection of Easy Ideas Using Everyday Materials
- [For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter
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[For Seniors] Recommended New Year’s Crafts and Activity Ideas (41–50)
Just stick-on felt ema (votive plaque)
@user6612017398694 JanuaryEma (wooden votive plaque)HandmadeDarumaMt. FujiFeltDay service#Danran no Ie Kasugai Chuo#2025
♬ Enjoy Kids – Dianernia92
Felt creations have a warm, gentle atmosphere, don’t they? If you glue felt pieces onto an ema plaque with wood glue, you can make a lovely piece.
Try making parts like a daruma, Mount Fuji, or the zodiac animals.
It’s such a cute craft that older adults are likely to enjoy it, too.
An ema decorated by placing the pieces wherever you like will be a one-of-a-kind work in the world.
As you make it, you might even get excited reminiscing about New Year’s celebrations from the past.
New Year’s day care: Ema (votive plaque) making
You can also feel a sense of cuteness from ema plaques decorated with the zodiac animals.
Let’s attach zodiac animals, pine needles, bamboo leaves, plum blossoms, and other pieces to the ema backing.
Place the zodiac animal wherever you like, and it’s done.
If you bundle the backing and the parts to be attached—such as the zodiac pieces—together in a bag and hand them to seniors, it might make the craft easier for them.
Making this set together during a year-end craft activity with seniors also sounds fun.
Add a New Year-style message, such as your resolutions or wishes for the year, and it’s complete.
Pochi-bukuro ema
These are ema charms that can also serve as small gift envelopes (pochibukuro) and are sure to delight your grandchildren.
Origami works, but if you use thicker colored paper, the result will be sturdier.
Fold it into the shape of an ema, glue the two sides, and thread a string through.
That’s it—your pochibukuro ema is complete.
You can also make the zodiac animal of the year with origami or construction paper and stick it onto the ema.
Including a message for the recipient is recommended as well.
It might spark lively conversation, especially for older adults who have grandchildren or others to give them to.
They also make lovely decorations for your room.
How to make an easy origami ema (votive plaque)
Origami involves extensive use of the fingertips and helps stimulate the brain, so I imagine many senior care facilities incorporate it.
It also trains fine motor skills and concentration.
Ema (votive plaques) made with origami are perfect for January, making them a great recommendation for origami activities with older adults.
Let’s fold while creasing carefully to create the piece.
If the steps are simple, many seniors will likely be able to participate.
Enjoy adding your own touches, such as writing messages or decorating with New Year-themed stickers.
Three-dimensional Hamaya arrow and Ema plaque made with origami
Some seniors may also purchase a ceremonial arrow (hamaya) and ema plaques during their first shrine visit of the New Year, right? These are perfect for the New Year, but some older adults may find it difficult to go out.
You can make one by rolling a rectangular piece of origami into a tube, attaching feathers, and decorating it with gold origami—then it’s done.
You could also substitute a paper straw to make it.
Attach an ema made from folded origami to the hamaya to complete it.
Since most of the folds are simple, it should be easy for seniors to make.
Give this good-luck craft a try and make it by hand!
Ema-style message card
Let’s make ema message plaques that can also be used as wall decorations.
Cut the base for the message card—or thick paper or drawing paper—into the shape of an ema.
Ask the seniors to draw illustrations of the zodiac animals or write messages on them.
It’s a great way for their individuality to shine through.
Some may even create them for their family members they live with or for their grandchildren.
The cute finished ema pieces are sure to bring smiles to the seniors’ faces.
Using colored paper to make the ema will give the work a different feel and atmosphere, too.
Shimenawa with an ema (votive plaque) attached
When New Year’s comes around, many households put up shimenawa decorations.
It would be lovely to display a handmade shimenawa along with ema plaques.
You can make them using craft paper or origami.
Using items from a 100-yen shop makes it easy to gather supplies.
Roll craft paper into a coil to form a ring and create the shimenawa.
Some older adults may have made shimenawa at home using straw and fruit.
Talking about shimenawa might spark conversation and help people connect.
Make plum blossoms, pine needles, and a folding fan to decorate the shimenawa.
Add a handmade ema, and it’s complete.