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[For Seniors] Easy Sunflower Origami Craft
When you think of sunflowers, you probably imagine cheerful flowers that bloom in summer.
Their bright yellow blossoms stand tall, facing the sky, and many people feel energized just by seeing that scene.
This time, we’ll introduce an origami craft inspired by sunflowers.
You might think it’s difficult to represent a sunflower with origami, but the projects here are all easy to make, so older adults can enjoy giving them a try.
If you’re looking for ideas for origami activities in senior facilities, please use this as a reference.
[For Seniors] Easy Sunflower Origami Craft (1–10)
Three-dimensional sunflower
Let’s make a cute, three-dimensional sunflower out of origami.
It will look great as a wall decoration, and you can also expand your arrangements by using it in wreaths and more.
The key point is to attach a smaller piece of brown origami paper at the center of the yellow sheet.
Starting from the brown center, fold rounded, puffy yellow petals around it.
If older adults find the fine details challenging, please have those around them offer support.
Origami that you fold while imagining the finished piece is recommended as brain training for seniors.
Since origami can be done while seated, try making it together while communicating with the older adults.
Sunflower wreath
This is a sunflower wreath that will give your room a summery feel.
Some parts of the making process are a bit complex, but that complexity helps create the delicate look of the sunflowers.
Since it involves a lot of finger movement, it can be expected to help stimulate the brain.
It’s a project we especially recommend for older adults who are skilled at origami.
Of course, please try making it while supporting seniors who find it difficult.
Decorate the wreath base with sunflowers and leaves, making the most of each senior’s individual ideas.
Sunflower Basket
Let’s make a sunflower basket that’s perfect for holding small items like candies! You’ll make the basket, leaves, stem, flower, and handle each from separate sheets of origami paper, so there are many steps, but none of them are too difficult—give it a try if you like.
The leaves are made from a single sheet of origami paper, while the flower is made by folding both large and small sheets the same way, layering them, and gluing them together.
Some parts are hard to work with using just your fingers, so having a bamboo skewer or similar tool on hand is helpful.
The basket portion is made by connecting three parts.
For the handle and stem, cut origami paper into long narrow strips and fold each strip into thirds.
sunflower wall decoration
We’ll use everyday items to create a lovely wall decoration.
Many care facilities make seasonal wall displays featuring food, plants, and other motifs, don’t they? Through the making process, older adults can also feel the changing seasons.
This time, we’ll introduce a sunflower wall hanging made with origami.
You’ll craft the sunflower’s petals, the brown center, and the leaves from origami paper.
If you use a plastic bottle cap for the brown center, you can stamp round patterns.
Paste the sunflowers and leaves onto a backing sheet, and place it in a frame made from cooking chopsticks to complete an even more charming wall decoration.
You can also repurpose other familiar items to make the frame, not just chopsticks.
Sunflowers made with the kirigami technique
Here’s an idea for making sunflowers with paper cutouts (kirie).
You’ll create the flower part and the seed part separately, but for both, you fold the origami into a specified shape, draw the pattern, and then cut it out.
First, fold the origami into a triangle, then fold it into a triangle again to make a crease at the center and open it.
Fold the left and right corners toward the center line so they overlap firmly, then fold the paper in half again along the center line.
After that, just draw the pattern and cut.
The seed pattern consists of many small circles, but since you’ll be punching holes with a hole punch, even older adults should find the task easy to do.
origami fan
This is a sunflower fan made of origami that looks perfect for the hot season.
It’s convenient to use double-sided origami colored yellow and brown.
You can find it at 100-yen shops; if you don’t have it, attach yellow and brown sheets together to make your own.
You’ll accordion-fold the paper into 16 sections; pre-creasing before folding will give you a neat finish.
Adding leaves made from green pipe cleaners or paper will make it look even more like a sunflower.
It’s an activity that can help older adults feel the season through crafting.
After making it, you can take it home to display, or actually use it as a fan—either way, it’s a project you can enjoy even after it’s finished.
potted sunflower
Let’s try making a potted sunflower with origami.
For both the sunflower and its brown center, you’ll first create crease lines on the paper and then fold along them.
There are a few slightly complex steps, but once finished, it’s a project that can give older adults a strong sense of accomplishment.
If any older participants find it difficult, please support them and encourage them to give it a try.
Making several and decorating a wall will create a piece that evokes the arrival of summer.
You can also expand the possibilities by arranging them in different ways, such as mounting them on a backing to make a calendar or adding a frame for display.
We hope this helps you create wonderful works.