Simple Crafts for the Elderly Recommended for Tanabata
July 7 is Tanabata.
When you think of Tanabata, many people picture Princess Orihime, Prince Hikoboshi, and the Milky Way.
For older adults, hands-on crafts that let them experience seasonal events provide great stimulation for the brain.
In this article, we introduce easy craft ideas recommended for Tanabata.
We’ve gathered a wide range of Tanabata-themed craft ideas, including decorations, garlands, wall art, and tanzaku wish strips.
They’re all simple to make, so older adults can try them with ease.
Be sure to read this article and use it to help with your Tanabata crafting!
[For Seniors] Simple Tanabata Crafts Recommended (1–10)
Making tanzaku (paper strips)NEW!
On Tanabata, we decorate bamboo branches with tanzaku slips bearing our wishes.
I’m sure many of you, as children, freely and boldly asked the gods for what you wanted.
So let’s have older adults enjoy making Tanabata tanzaku as well.
The slips themselves are easy to make using colored construction paper or origami paper.
Have them write whatever they like on them.
As adults, we rarely have chances to write down our wishes, so it might feel fresh and engaging.
It will also be fun to see what everyone wishes for!
Colorful streamers
Here’s a round, cute, and colorful streamer.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and make straight vertical cuts, leaving the top section uncut.
The part you leave at the top will be the core of the streamer, so glue the origami around the core to reinforce it.
Glue the edges together to form a tube, then use an awl to make holes on both sides and thread a cotton string through.
Tie a large knot at the end of the string so the bead you’ll add at the top won’t slip off.
Cut a circle out of construction paper, fold multiple pieces into triangle shapes, and assemble them to create a flower ball to attach on top.
Match it to the streamer’s string, and it’s complete.
Tanabata Decorations: Sputtering Edition
It would be wonderful to incorporate spattering into Tanabata decorations.
Spattering is a technique where you create effects by flicking paint.
The problem is that paint tends to splatter everywhere, right? Here’s a simple way to spatter precisely where you need it.
Take a milk carton cut in half and make four slits.
Insert straws flattened on both ends into the slits, and you’re done.
Then move a paint-loaded brush between the paper straws to do the spattering.
Once you spatter it to look like the Milky Way, it’s complete.
Transparent three-dimensional star tanzaku
Tanabata is said to be an event based on Chinese mythology, but it seems there were similar customs in the West as well, though their exact origins aren’t clear.
It’s like the song “When You Wish Upon a Star”—gazing up at the shining stars in the night sky and letting your thoughts wander is something common to all humanity.
Speaking of Tanabata, it’s all about “stars.” Let’s try making a lovely three-dimensional Tanabata ornament using transparent chiyogami paper.
There are plenty of videos that teach you how to fold them, so look for one that suits your style.
And when you write your wish on the tanzaku strip, make sure it’s something you don’t mind others seeing!
Tanabata garland
Let me introduce a Tanabata garland that brings a cool, refreshing feel.
Prepare design paper, glitter star decorations, tape glue, and scissors, and let’s get crafting.
Attach the design paper to the glitter star decorations to make stars.
Cut strips while leaving the edge of the origami intact, roll them, and stick them to the back of the star.
You’ll have a beautiful shooting-star-like decoration.
Cut the design paper into circles and attach them to a string with cellophane tape.
Stick on the stars and circles to complete the garland.
Do try making this lovely garland to brighten up Tanabata!
Tanabata Wreath Made with Origami
Let me introduce a cute Tanabata wreath you can make with origami.
Create eight identical parts from origami paper, then glue them together, connecting them to form a wreath.
Once you’ve shaped the whole wreath, fold some bamboo leaves and attach them to the wreath.
When attaching the bamboo leaves, adjust their orientation to give the wreath a more three-dimensional, dynamic look.
Adding stars or little Orihime and Hikoboshi decorations can also give it a unique, adorable touch.
Give making a Tanabata wreath a try!
Frame decoration of Orihime and Hikoboshi
Here’s a cute framed decoration of Orihime and Hikoboshi you can make with items from 100-yen shops.
Using aurora-colored origami paper will give the characters a sparkly look.
First, use a template to make the faces and cut them out.
Fold the bodies along the template’s crease lines and trim off any excess.
Attach the faces and bodies with double-sided tape.
For the background, star-patterned origami paper works well.
To finish it like a frame, fold the edges of the origami paper narrowly inward and secure them with stickers or similar, and you’re done.
