[For Seniors] Sunflower Crafts: A Collection of Ideas to Brighten Up Your Indoor Space
When you think of summer flowers, many people probably picture sunflowers.
Their brightly colored yellow petals give off an energetic vibe.
This time, we’re introducing sunflower-themed crafts designed for older adults.
Even if you’re not very skilled at crafting, these are all simple ideas that are easy to make.
In addition to origami and felt, they use materials like newspapers and paper cups that are easy to find at 100-yen shops, making them simple to try.
Please use this article as a reference and enjoy working on fun summer crafts!
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[For Seniors] Sunflower Crafts: A Collection of Ideas to Brighten Up Your Indoor Space (11–20)
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.
Sunflowers with paper cups
This is a sunflower craft that uses a paper cup like a flowerpot.
First, pre-crease the origami and make accordion folds to create the petals.
It’s recommended because you can keep the folds evenly spaced.
Cut the tips to form the petals, and make the center part with brown origami.
Wrap green origami around a bamboo skewer to make the stem, and add origami leaves.
There are many steps that use the fingers and hands, so it seems like a fun brain-training activity for older adults.
Stick the sunflowers into a melamine sponge or similar base, place them in the paper cup, and display.
Decorating the paper cup will make the craft even cuter.
Sunflower made from felt
These felt sunflowers are a great option for summer decor.
They’re perfect for seniors who aren’t comfortable going out—you can easily enjoy sunflowers at home, so give it a try! Cut a strip of felt into a ribbon shape, make lots of slits in it, then roll it up and secure it with a glue gun or adhesive to create the sunflower’s center.
Using yellow and brown felt gives it that classic sunflower look.
Next, cut yellow felt to make the petals.
Finally, attach all the parts and you’re done.
Add wire to display it in a vase, or make a smaller version to enjoy as a hair accessory or corsage!
papercut sunflower
Once you get the hang of it, kirigami is an easy and enjoyable craft, making it a great option for older adults as well.
Folding origami paper and cutting with scissors are effective for finger dexterity training and dementia prevention, so try incorporating it into at-home activities or day-service recreation.
To make a kirigami sunflower, first fold yellow origami paper into a triangle.
Then fold it firmly by crossing at the center, and fold it in half again.
Next, sketch a template so the cuts will form petal shapes, cut along the lines with scissors, and open it up to reveal the flower.
Do the same with a slightly smaller piece of brown origami paper to create the sunflower’s center.
If you punch two holes with a hole punch while it’s still folded, it will give a more sunflower-like look when opened.
Finally, layer the pieces and glue them together to finish.
Sunflower summer wreath
This sunflower summer wreath has a natural feel that lifts your spirits.
It’s great as a wall decoration for your room or as a small accent on a shelf! It also makes a perfect gift for friends, kids, or grandkids, so why not give it a try? Making a template beforehand makes it easier to cut the felt.
There are lots of pieces, so it might take a little time, but it’s a project you can work on steadily and enjoy as a hobby.
The wreath base can be a 100-yen shop item.
Feel free to customize the felt colors, the sunflowers, and the wreath size, or add a ribbon—make it your own!
A cute spiral-shaped sunflower
Would you like to make a sunflower with beautifully spiraling petals out of origami? This idea involves many steps to create crease lines, so it requires a bit of patience.
However, the creases themselves are made with simple folds, making it suitable for older adults as well.
First, fold the origami paper into a triangle twice, then squash the pockets on both sides.
Next, fold the two bottom edges to meet the center line, open the paper, and use the creases to fold the four corners inward.
Then, using the creases, create an octagonal crease in the center of the paper.
After that, simply fold the paper along that octagon.
Finally, layer a circle-cut piece of origami paper in the center of the flower to complete the sunflower.
Try making them in various sizes and use them to decorate your walls for summer!
[For Seniors] Sunflower Crafts: A Collection of Ideas to Brighten Up Your Indoor Space (21–30)
Torn-paper collage with newspapers
Why not reuse old newspapers to make torn-paper collages? Torn-paper art is also great for finger dexterity training and dementia prevention in older adults! If you choose sunflowers as your theme, it’s a good idea to cut out and collect yellow, green, and brown sections from the newspaper.
First, draw an outline of a sunflower, then use it as a base and paste on pieces of torn newspaper.
Using a variety of shades will give your work more depth, so give it a try! Sunflowers have a limited color palette, making them an easy motif to create for all ages.