Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Fun to Make! Paper Quilling Ideas

Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

Are you familiar with those creations made from long, tape-like strips of paper rolled into coils and shaped into flowers and other forms?

It’s called paper quilling, and it’s a type of paper craft.

By changing how you roll the narrow strips of paper, you create parts that you can combine to make plants, animals, and more.

It looks fun, and you can make beautiful pieces!

So this time, we’re introducing paper quilling ideas for seniors.

You can easily make them with a bit of ingenuity—using materials from 100-yen shops and even substituting tools for rolling the paper, like using a toothpick instead of a dedicated tool.

The process includes some fine work that uses your fingertips.

Delicate tasks can be expected to provide brain-training benefits, but please have staff assist with any difficult steps.

[For Seniors] Fun to Make! Paper Quilling Ideas (11–20)

origami butterfly

[Origami and Quilling] Easy! You can make a butterfly with just one sheet of origami♪ | Home time / origami / butterfly

origami butterfly

This project builds up a three-dimensional finish by adding various parts to a butterfly base made from origami.

Paper quilling is used for the antennae; by tightly rolling and then spreading the paper, you create graceful, three-dimensional curves.

The butterfly base itself is simple—bundle together accordion-folded strips and fan them out—but by refining the fineness of the folds and how you spread them, you can achieve a more beautiful look.

Choosing the right origami paper is also a key point for a refined finish.

After that, just attach the decorations to the base and you’re done.

It also serves as practice: paying close attention to details like the accordion folds and how you roll the antennae is important.

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Quilling art: grapes

[Great for your first try!] Create autumn crafts with quilling art #easycrafts #athomeplay #stayhome #simplecrafts #quillingart #preschoolcrafts #ideasforpreschool

Quilling art: grapes

This is a grape art piece made with quilling, where you roll narrow strips of paper.

Cut construction paper into long, thin strips and roll them around a chopstick.

Since it uses the fingertips, it can also help stimulate the brains of older adults.

Make several rolled pieces and glue them onto a backing so they resemble grape berries.

It already looks like grapes at this stage, but we’ll add a bit more.

Prepare circular cutouts of origami paper in colors like purple or pink.

When you glue these circles on top of the rolled paper attached to the backing, it creates a grape-like, realistic effect.

Displaying the grape artwork in a frame made from tree branches is also recommended.

You can even use branches you find while taking a walk in a park.

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Tulips and butterflies

[Craft Idea] Tulip & Butterfly Quilling (April Spring) (Wall Decoration) (Elderly Recreation, Day Service, Occupational Therapy OT, Childcare, Creative Activity) (3D Decoration) (DIY)

Tulips and butterflies

This is a 3D wall decoration of tulips and butterflies made with paper quilling.

Cut two types of paper, such as red and yellow, into rectangles and apply double-sided tape to one edge.

Wrap the paper around a bamboo skewer and roll it to create quilled rings for the petals.

Arrange the parts inside each ring and glue them tightly with no gaps to complete the three-dimensional tulips.

Make the leaves with the same quilling method; giving them a gentle curl adds a soft, flowing look.

When making the butterfly, vary the colors and sizes of the wings as you quill.

For the antennae, tightly roll thin strips of paper to make them look realistic.

Because this involves many fine finger movements, it can also serve as a hand dexterity exercise for older adults.

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paper quilling

Here is a video you can make using just one basic paper quilling part. [Quilling]

paper quilling

Why not give paper quilling a try? Paper quilling refers to three-dimensional objects made by rolling narrow strips of paper, or artwork that combines those elements like a painting.

For example, you can arrange spiral-shaped coils to form a heart or create flower-like shapes.

There’s a lot of creative freedom, so I encourage you to imagine the kind of piece you want to make as you work.

By the way, using commercially available quilling paper will make the process smoother.

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In conclusion

By getting creative, such as changing the way you wrap or coil, it seems like you could broaden the range of your creations.

Some parts also look delicate, so I think you’ll enjoy both the making process and the finished result.

It might be good to adjust the difficulty based on how the older adults are doing.

Please do try making some wonderful pieces!