[For Seniors] Enjoy the Hot Summer to the Fullest! A Collection of Easy Craft Ideas

Fruit cross-section coaster

[Production] Fruit Cross-Section Coaster 🍋

For staying hydrated during the hot summer, fruit is a great choice—their vibrant colors also boost that fresh, summery feeling.

Let’s make some colorful coasters inspired by the cross-sections of fresh fruit.

It’s a simple project where you attach things like origami paper or masking tape to coasters to create fruit cross-sections.

Since they’ll hold wet items, finish the surface with a water-repellent material like a plastic sleeve.

To make them look even more beautiful when you place a glass on top, consider adding decorations that reflect light.

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kappamaki

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An Aquarium Made from Plastic Bottle Crafts

An aquarium with gently swaying fish: a plastic bottle craft

Here’s a perfect summer-at-home craft: an aquarium made from a plastic bottle.

The gently swaying fish are sure to soothe you, so give it a try! First, cut the plastic bottle below the halfway point, then press the cut edge against a hot iron to round it off.

Use an awl to make two holes in the bottle cap.

Next, draw your favorite fish on shrink plastic, punch a hole at the top, and bake it in a toaster to shrink it.

Then thread twine through the fish, and also through the bottle and cap, and secure it in place.

For the finishing touches, decorate a cardboard base with small stones and pipe cleaners to create a seascape, then place the bottle over it and glue it down—that’s it! It brings a refreshing vibe to hot summer days, and it’s also great as room decor.

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miyabi

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Mini shuriken

I tried making mini shuriken out of popsicle sticks! Easy craft

Mini throwing stars that are perfect as gifts for your grandkids or as recreational play equipment.

Combine two ice cream sticks in an X shape to make them.

If you use the sticks as they are, the throwing star will be a bit large, so you can cut them to about half size if you prefer.

You can launch the finished star by placing it on your palm and flicking it with your finger.

To avoid mixing them up with others, it’s recommended to color them or write your name on them.

When using them in a group activity, try competing to see whose can fly the farthest.

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SAKI

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Tanabata decorations

Milky Way with colored construction paper ♪ Let’s make Tanabata decorations

July 7th is Tanabata.

Even as adults, many of us still get excited about it.

This time, let’s make Tanabata decorations using construction paper.

First, we’ll recreate the Milky Way.

Make slits in a sheet of blue construction paper with scissors, and the Milky Way is done! You can also recreate a star-filled sky with origami: just cut yellow origami paper into star shapes.

Attach them to the Milky Way, and you’ll have a splendid Milky Way display.

Even if you can’t see it because of rain, enjoy Tanabata at home while gazing at your very own Milky Way.

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Nanaka

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Four types of Tanabata decorations

[Craft] Simple and cute! Four types of Tanabata decorations 🎋✨

Tanabata, also affectionately known among young people as “Summer Valentine’s Day.” No matter how old you are, writing your wishes on tanzaku paper strips is always delightful.

How about making a big Tanabata bamboo decoration together this year? The streamers topped with cute pom-poms are easier to make than you might think.

For the pom-pom part, make flowers out of tissue paper; for the tentacle-like strips, take accordion-folded paper and snip it with scissors.

Then just fluff them up and assemble them softly.

For the UFO-like disc ornament, use a toilet paper roll.

Making it with shiny colored paper gives it a glamorous look.

It would be wonderful if everyone at your facility or day service could create a large bamboo decoration together.

A simple star with paper cutting

On the night of Tanabata, when Orihime and Hikoboshi are said to meet just once a year, the real stars of the show are, of course, the stars themselves.

Let’s try making various star decorations out of paper, an essential part of Tanabata ornaments.

Simply cutting colored paper into star shapes is plenty, but if you draw lines across a pentagon like diagonals and fold along them slightly, you’ll get a three-dimensional star.

Using sparkly paper will double the glittery effect.

You can also cut a star-shaped window out of a paper star to create a translucent-looking ornament.

Try connecting stars of different sizes, arranging them in color gradients, and so on—have everyone share their ideas!

papercut sunflower

[Origami] Kirigami Flower (42) Sunflower 🌻 Sunflower Origami

Once you get the hang of it, kirigami is an easy and enjoyable craft, making it a great recommendation for older adults as well.

Folding origami paper and cutting it with scissors helps train finger dexterity and may aid in preventing cognitive decline, so try incorporating it into at-home activities or day service recreation.

To make a kirigami sunflower, first fold a yellow origami sheet into a triangle, then fold firmly so the creases cross at the center, and fold it in half again.

Next, sketch a template so it forms petal shapes, cut along the lines with scissors, and open it up to reveal the flower.

Do the same with a slightly smaller brown origami sheet to create the sunflower’s center.

If you punch two holes with a hole punch while it’s folded, it will give a more sunflower-like look when opened.

Finally, layer the two pieces and glue them together to finish.

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miyabi

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