Recommended for seniors! Origami gifts
How about giving origami as a gift to an older adult?
Origami makes a perfect present for Respect for the Aged Day, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Handmade gifts warm the heart and make people feel cozy inside.
For such occasions, flowers are a great choice in origami, as well as celebratory good-luck cranes.
Try making something with the recipient’s tastes in mind.
It’ll be even more appreciated if you include a message card along with the origami gift.
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Recommended for seniors! Origami gifts (41–50)
Origami artwork: wisteria flowers
Let’s try making origami wisteria flowers in the style of tsumami-zaiku (pinching craft).
Fold the origami paper in half, then fold again leaving a small gap at the center and glue it in place.
Turn it over, fold in half, and glue the pointed tip side.
Insert a thin, elongated stick into the crease and gently spread it to create volume.
Make many petals using purple or light purple origami and layer them.
Create long, thin sticks, assemble them in a lattice-like structure, and attach the wisteria flowers to finish.
This project helps with hand exercise and rehabilitation, stimulating the brain and potentially aiding in dementia prevention.
How about using it as a recreational activity in a senior care facility?
Recommended for Seniors! Origami Gifts (51–60)
Simple wisteria flower
Introducing a wisteria flower made by combining many small flower parts.
Cut a standard sheet of origami paper into quarters and fold it as you would when making a crane.
Once you open and fold both sides only on the surface that will become the front of the flower, the blossom is complete.
Make lots of flowers and leaves and assemble them to create a lovely hanging wisteria decoration.
Because this project requires many parts, it’s perfect for recreational activities in senior care facilities.
Get everyone involved and enjoy making it together!
Yuri
Lilies, which are in season from early summer through summer, come in various colors, but they’re often associated with a beautiful white image.
This piece shows how to create such a white, beautiful lily in three dimensions by combining origami.
The idea is to fold with the final spreading in mind, and making precise, even folds will lead to a beautiful result.
When you spread it open, curving the petals is also key—this helps create a solid sense of three-dimensionality.
Adding a stem afterward makes it easier to display, so it’s highly recommended.
poinsettia
Poinsettias, which vividly brighten up the winter season, strongly evoke Christmas with their red and green appearance.
How about recreating a poinsettia with origami to feel a touch of warmth amid the cold? The method involves cutting origami into shapes that look like spread leaves and layering them, but by giving each part crisp creases, you create depth when they’re stacked.
Make sure to press firm creases into each piece, fold and cut, and then layer them while keeping a sense of softness in mind.
peach blossoms
Peach blossoms, which bloom as spring grows warmer, are known to share many similarities with cherry blossoms, such as their small pink flowers.
Let’s create peach blossoms that capture that beauty and warmth by making a three-dimensional version with origami.
First, cut the origami paper into a pentagon.
Using the creases—which also serve as guides—fold it into a shape with five pointed directions.
From there, shape each tip into a petal, and you’re done.
It’s a design where precise small refolds are key.
The reverse side of the paper also becomes part of the design, so the impression will change depending on the color you choose.
butterfly
Here’s an easy “butterfly” craft you can prepare quickly with just a few simple steps.
First, prepare three sheets of origami paper: two for the wings and one for the body.
On the two sheets for the wings, draw lines freely with colored pencils.
This will make the finished piece much more vibrant.
After drawing the lines, fold the origami paper into an accordion, then fold it into a V shape.
Next, cut the remaining sheet into the shape of a butterfly’s body.
Attach the wings to the body symmetrically, and you’re done.
If you make butterflies in various colors and display them, they can become a fantastical wall decoration.
Because this craft uses fine motor skills, it also provides good stimulation for the brain and is recommended as a recreational activity in senior facilities.
flower card
Let’s celebrate a birthday with a floral card.
Fold and cut origami paper to create flower shapes.
By changing the fold lines and cutting positions, you can make flowers in different sizes.
Using patterned origami paper makes it look even more beautiful.
Stack three to five origami flowers from largest to smallest, and write a message in the center of the top flower.
As each petal is opened one by one, a heartfelt message is revealed.
Older adults may also feel excited, wondering, “What will appear when I open the petals?” It’s also fun that the mood changes depending on the colors and patterns of the origami you use.
