[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts

Shimenawa wreath decoration

All Paper! How to Make a New Year’s Shimenawa Wreath Decoration

Why not try making a handmade shimenawa wreath, an essential New Year’s decoration? It’s perfect for seniors’ finger dexterity training, and the handmade touch gives it a unique charm you won’t find in store-bought items.

For the shimenawa rope, you can unravel paper cord available at 100-yen shops and braid it yourself.

You can also enjoy decorating it however you like with items such as fans made from chiyogami paper, camellia flowers crafted from colored paper, and mizuhiki cords.

If making the shimenawa from paper cord feels too challenging, using a store-bought wreath base could be an easier way to finish it.

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miyabi

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Daruma Fukuwarai

Recommended for senior recreation! Popular craft kit “Daruma Fukuwarai”

Some seniors may remember playing fukuwarai with their families during New Year’s.

Here’s a craft kit that will bring back those fun times.

Using fabric, you can make a daruma-themed fukuwarai decoration.

Attach fabric pieces, cut into each facial part, onto a felt base.

Since it only involves cutting and pasting, it’s also recommended for older men who have never tried sewing.

The best part of this kit is placing the facial features.

You can start with the eyes or the nose—whichever you like.

Let seniors arrange the pieces however they prefer.

It’s a fukuwarai kit that makes the process itself a joyful time.

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Nakajima Junko

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Daruma-otoshi

I tried making a daruma otoshi with plastic bottle caps. #DIY #shorts #handmadeToys

Here’s a craft project that brings out both nostalgia and playfulness: a DIY version of Daruma Otoshi.

Cut colored tape to fit the size of bottle caps and stick it onto three caps.

Stack two of them and freely draw the Daruma’s face and body.

Use the remaining cap as the base, and play by knocking the stacked parts down.

Because it uses few tools and can be completed quickly, it’s recommended even for seniors who aren’t used to crafts.

There are many steps that involve fine motor movements, like drawing and choosing colors, making it helpful for hand rehabilitation.

The finished pieces look adorable just lined up for display, and one of the charms is the warm, handmade feel.

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mutō

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Various Daruma decorations

[Origami Winter] New Year’s origami decorations: various “Daruma” ornaments. Easy craft and wall decorations (for childcare workers and caregivers). Papercraft Daruma / DIY.

Why not try making New Year decorations featuring the lucky Daruma motif? It’s easy to get started with familiar materials like origami and construction paper, making it a great option for day-service recreation activities as well! You can paint the Daruma’s face with a brush like a first-calligraphy exercise, create pieces inspired by the traditional Daruma-otoshi game, or make a three-dimensional Daruma with just a few simple cuts—there are countless ways to enjoy Daruma-themed New Year decorations depending on your creativity.

Use them as wall hangings or tabletop ornaments to brighten up your space and welcome the New Year in style.

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miyabi

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Fukumamori

[Craft Activity][100-Yen DIY] Easy, no sewing! Fukumamori (Good-Luck Charm) [Summer/Autumn Craft][Craft Vlog] What are your summer vacation memories?

Why not try handmaking a Fukumamori, a charm said to bring happiness? It’s a great idea both as an accessory for seniors to wear and as a gift for someone special.

Cut slits at both ends of the center of a piece of felt, then attach a string and decorative pom-poms onto tape and sandwich them between the felt.

After sticking fabric and buttons onto the felt, decorate with triangular fabric and beads, and finish by tying the string.

Create a heartwarming gift with a Japanese or Christmas theme!

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mutō

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Fluffy snow rabbit wall decoration

[Winter Craft] Fluffy Snow Bunny Wall Decoration♪

When it snows, you can’t help wanting to make a snow rabbit.

A snow rabbit is also a great motif for winter crafts! Try creating a soft, three-dimensional snow rabbit using tissues.

Crumple a few tissues to form the base of the snow rabbit, then wrap it with one more sheet to give it a fluffy look.

Add red round stickers for the eyes, cut out ears from origami paper and attach them, and it’s done! When displaying it on a wall, you might combine it with construction paper cut into a tray-like shape for the background, or decorate it with plum or camellia flowers and snowflakes for a lovely finish.

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miyabi

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Fluffy chenille wish plaque (ema)

Gen Hoshino says “Let’s dance at home,” and we say “Let’s make it at home♪ Let’s make ema♪ Let’s make them as a family.” (This is a how-to video from Kanone Junior High on making handmade ema craft plaques.)

It’s an ema plaque with a three-dimensional feel, as if the area outside the written wishes is framed by a softly wrapped chenille stem (pipe cleaner).

Cut the panel into the shape of an ema, then make an inner cut and hollow it out.

Wrap the chenille around the outer frame, punch a hole at the top of the inner piece, cover the entire inner piece with construction paper, thread the chenille through the inner hole, tie it, and fit it in place to complete the whole piece.

Have everyone write their wishes on the inner construction paper.

With the frame thoroughly decorated, the wishes written on the inside are nicely emphasized.

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kappamaki

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