[For Seniors] Introducing Fun Crafts Made with Plastic Bottle Caps
We’ve gathered practical craft ideas that use plastic bottle caps.
Bottle caps that would normally end up as trash—why not use them to enjoy some crafting?
You can easily make useful items like brooches, small containers, magnets, and memo stands.
They’re perfect for small gifts, too.
Moving your hands helps stimulate both body and mind, making this a great recreational activity.
Please use these ideas as a reference for craft activities in senior care facilities.
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[For Seniors] Introducing Fun Crafts Made with Plastic Bottle Caps (11–20)
Sunflower magnet
Let me introduce a sunflower magnet you can make with origami paper and a plastic bottle cap.
First, prepare yellow, green, and brown origami paper.
Fold the yellow and green paper while marking guidelines, then cut them into flower and leaf shapes with scissors and shape them neatly.
When assembling the flower, layer the petals slightly offset so they don’t overlap directly—that makes it look nicer.
Cut the brown paper into a circle, then glue it on while checking the placement with the leaves to form the sunflower.
Glue a magnet to a plastic bottle cap, then attach it to the back of the sunflower to finish.
If you make a bunch and display them, they’ll transform the feel of your room.
Give it a try!
Flower basket made from scrap materials
A flower basket that uses paper quilling—perfect for spring crafting! It’s very economical because the base of the basket is made from a plastic bottle cap.
It also makes a great small gift! The basic method is to take narrow strips of paper and roll them tightly using a nail stick or bamboo skewer to shape them.
Creating several types—like ovals, teardrops, and fringed rolls—will make it look more vibrant! After stuffing the bottle cap with tissue, freely decorate it with flower parts to finish.
Make lots to brighten up your room or entryway.
succulent basket
Having some greenery in your room is so soothing, isn’t it? Succulents are relatively easy to grow even for gardening beginners, so they’re a popular choice for houseplants.
Let’s try making a small succulent arrangement in a mini basket crafted from a plastic bottle cap! Make holes at the top of the cap, thread wire through to create a basket-like handle, then wrap jute twine around and secure it with glue to complete your mini basket.
When planting inside the basket, it’s easier if you use soil that hardens and a fine-tipped tweezers.
The key is to pack the plants in firmly without leaving gaps, right up to the rim of the pot.
Working with soil can be a great source of stimulation for older adults as well, so please give it a try!
small basket
A mini basket that’ll make you excited to think, “What should I put in it?” Believe it or not, you can handcraft it using a plastic bottle cap! Since you remove the cap afterward, it’s very hygienic.
It would also make a delightful mini gift for a small thank-you.
You wrap the cap in plastic wrap, then wind paper cord around it while applying glue.
The trick is to first make the base by coiling the paper cord until it’s about the same size as the cap’s circle, then start wrapping upward.
Once the glue dries, pull out the cap and attach a handle to finish! Enjoy customizing with white, beige, or colorful paper cords—whatever you like.
Christmas tree
No matter how old we get, there’s something about the approach of the Christmas season that makes us feel excited.
In facilities like day service centers and care homes, many people enjoy decorations on the walls during Christmas.
A Christmas tree wall hanging is a classic craft, but this article introduces an idea for making a Christmas tree using plastic bottle caps.
While there are methods that use the caps as the base and create the tree with felt, there’s an even simpler approach.
We recommend sewing fabric of your choice onto the plastic bottle caps, then fixing the caps onto a backing board covered with felt to arrange them in the shape of a tree.
Choose a method that seems manageable for the participants, and have fun crafting!
Memo stand
A memo stand is a practical item you can enjoy using even after making it.
Since you can place a written note somewhere noticeable, it’s a helpful item for older adults as well.
Wrap and secure paper cord around a plastic bottle cap, then fill the inside by coiling colored construction paper or paper tape and packing it in.
Next, attach a coil of colored wire to the top of the cap.
Adding a paper flower, or decorating with beads or pom-poms, will make it look extra cute!
[For Seniors] Fun Crafts Using Plastic Bottle Caps (21–30)
Kanji characters that have the grass radical
Aren’t there also some senior care facilities where residents do gardening or grow vegetables in planters? It’s also called horticultural therapy, and I’ve heard that cultivating plants can have positive effects physically, mentally, cognitively, and socially.
It may even help seniors recover certain functions.
Many older adults seem to enjoy flowers and plants.
Here’s a PET-bottle-cap puzzle that uses kanji with the grass radical, which often signifies plants.
With this puzzle, seniors might find it easier to give it a try.
