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

Summer is the season when we start to sweat more and more.

Even indoors, you may sometimes feel the heat.

However, some older adults seem to have a harder time sensing heat.

This time, we’ll introduce some simple, recommended crafts you can do indoors during the hot season, when outdoor activities tend to decrease.

By creating summer-themed pieces, you can help people feel the season, even if it’s become harder to sense it.

After making them, you can take them home or display them at a facility, which can also give a sense of accomplishment!

Crafting involves fine motor movements of the fingertips and thinking through the steps in your head, stimulating the brain and serving as brain training.

Please enjoy making them at your own pace.

[For Seniors] Make the Most of the Hot Summer! A Collection of Easy Craft Ideas (231–240)

Tanzaku of Orihime and Hikoboshi

Tanabata Decorations with Origami: How to Make Wish Strips of Orihime and Hikoboshi [With Voice Commentary] Tanabata Series #5 / Grandma’s Origami
Tanzaku of Orihime and Hikoboshi

Tanzaku are the small strips of paper where you write your wishes and hang them on the Tanabata bamboo.

How about adding a little twist to make your tanzaku even cuter? In true Tanabata fashion, try attaching Orihime and Hikoboshi to your tanzaku.

You can use the usual paper for writing your wish—no problem there! Use separate origami paper to fold Orihime and Hikoboshi.

Choose paper with cute patterns, and after folding, decorate them with stickers or other embellishments to make them extra adorable.

Once you’ve folded each one, attach them to the tanzaku, add a string, and you’re done! Then hang them on the bamboo and enjoy Tanabata!

Goldfish Swaying in the Breeze

Goldfish are a classic summer motif, often used in designs for yukata.

Let’s create a decoration that captures the image of goldfish swimming so people can feel a bit cooler.

Make soft-looking goldfish out of tissue paper and hang them with thread, then decorate around them with elements that suggest leaves and ripples.

The key point is that the goldfish are suspended by thread: when a breeze hits them, they sway, evoking the motion of swimming and enhancing the refreshing, cool atmosphere.

Wreath of summer flowers

Origami Morning Glory Flower Wreath How to Make | Tutorial (niceno1)
Wreath of summer flowers

Let’s try making a cute wreath inspired by lively summer flowers! When you hear “wreath,” you might think it’s a bit difficult—attaching various materials to a donut-shaped base.

But there are easy and adorable ways to make them! A classic example is a wreath using a styrofoam base.

If you use a donut-shaped styrofoam ring sold at 100-yen shops, you can simply poke in or glue on your favorite materials to create a cute wreath.

Just prepare various fabric scraps in colors that match summer flowers, and poke them in with a toothpick, and you’ll have a bright, summery wreath in no time!

[For Seniors] Make the Most of the Hot Summer! Easy Craft Ideas (241–250)

Spinning Aquarium Craft

[Craft] A simple indoor recreation activity for elderly care facilities (home care, day service, nursing homes) using paper cups: “Spinning Aquarium”
Spinning Aquarium Craft

This is a fun spinning aquarium craft idea where the drawings keep changing.

You’ll use two paper cups for this.

Cut a square window out of the side of one cup.

On the side of the other cup, draw illustrations of sea creatures.

When you’re done, stack the cups so that the cutout cup is on the outside.

Then, when you rotate the inner cup, different illustrations will appear one after another.

Of course, you can customize it by drawing animals, flowers, or anything else you like.

Sunflower Coaster

Just cut and paste! How to Make Sunflower Coasters – DIY Easy Sunflower Coasters Craft Idea
Sunflower Coaster

Why not try handmaking sunflower coasters that will shine in the summer season? All you have to do is cut and paste felt, so anyone can give it a try with ease! It’s handy to prepare a template in advance.

Cut the felt into petal shapes, layer two pieces, and create the sunflower’s center by weaving strips of felt.

Using different colors for the petals will enhance the design.

Finally, secure each part with a glue gun or adhesive, and you’re done.

Felt is soft to the touch and easy to work with, so be sure to incorporate it into your crafts!

ice pop

Let’s make an ice pop out of origami—an essential treat for hot summer days.

Using a single sheet of paper, we’ll create the base for the whole piece.

By forming solid overlaps, you’ll achieve a three-dimensional look with the stick appearing to be inserted into the ice.

After that, just layer various colors and decorations inspired by real ice pops, and you’re done.

As you recall the flavors you crave in the summer heat, train your creativity by thinking about how to recreate them in design.

Because it’s simple, there’s plenty of room for playful customization.

Easy with origami! Translucent garland

How to make an easy, voluminous garland with origami – party decorations and a kids’ craft
Easy with origami! Translucent garland

With translucent origami paper, you can easily create stylish interior decor items.

A top recommendation is a translucent garland.

Start by folding summer-themed motifs with the see-through origami.

Alternatively, you can use a stapler to make charming pinwheels.

Once they’re ready, thread them onto a string to form a garland.

You can arrange them in a straight horizontal line or link them vertically—either works.

Adjust the design to suit the space where you’ll display it.