[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
Here are some recommended winter craft ideas that are perfect for seniors!
Winter brings lots of fun events and occasions, such as Christmas and New Year’s.
You might also think of seasonal foods, games, weather, and the cold.
So this time, we’ve gathered many craft ideas that help seniors feel the winter season.
Why not enjoy some craft activities in a warm indoor setting?
Using your fingers and brain can also provide cognitive training benefits.
If the crafts are practical, you can take them home to use or display and enjoy.
Please make use of these ideas in your daily recreation activities.
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[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple Recommended Crafts (91–100)
Toilet-paper kadomatsu
Here’s a decorative kadomatsu you can make by reusing toilet paper rolls.
It’s perfect for a New Year’s craft activity, so consider trying it at a day service center or similar setting.
Cut the ends of toilet paper rolls diagonally and wrap them with green construction paper to represent bamboo.
Make three of these and glue them together.
Next, take a rectangular piece of construction paper, snip fine cuts along the top and bottom edges, and wrap it around the bamboo to finish.
For an even more festive look, wrap red construction paper or washi-patterned paper over it.
Dreamcatcher
A simple dreamcatcher you can make with a paper plate and yarn.
First, cut out the center of the paper plate.
Next, use a hole punch to make five evenly spaced holes.
Thread the yarn through the holes in the order you would draw a star.
This step seems like a good workout for the brain as well as the hands.
Then, wrap the yarn around and around the paper plate.
Once you’ve finished wrapping, tie a lark’s head knot at the bottom, then prepare another piece of yarn, tie a loop knot to make a handle, and you’re done.
Have fun chatting as you make it—something like, “You know, a dreamcatcher is a kind of protective charm.”
[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple Recommended Crafts (101–110)
Cat accessories
When we think of cats in winter, many of us picture them curled up inside a heated kotatsu, spending time with people in a warm room.
Cats’ love of cozy spots makes them a perfect motif for winter crafts, especially during the cold season.
Also, February 22 is said to be “Cat Day” in Japan, based on a wordplay on the sound of a cat’s meow.
By using a cat as the motif and shaping it into a small container, you can imagine many uses—like holding beans for Setsubun or chocolates for Valentine’s Day.
Key points for achieving a cute look include carefully layering the creases so there’s a gap or a base to hold items, and using the reverse side of the paper as the ear color.
Heart-shaped paper gift box
How about handcrafting a heart-shaped paper gift box that’s perfect for Christmas or Valentine’s events? A great point is that you can size it to fit your present! First, cut thick paper into a heart shape to make the base, then create the sides and the lid.
You can change the look by applying your favorite wrapping paper, and decorating with ribbons or cords would be lovely, too! It’s also a charming craft because you can adjust the design to suit the recipient’s image.
If this piques your interest, why not give it a try?
A pine cone from a cedar tree like a rose
There are many kinds of pine cones, and among them, the most striking are cedar pine cones.
They don’t produce seeds unless the tree is over 30 years old, making them quite rare.
Their shape even resembles a rose, which is why they’re called cedar roses.
This time, let’s make a flower arrangement using cedar roses.
Simply soaking cedar roses in bleach will remove the color and give them a rich, nuanced finish.
Then, by coating them with color spray, you can create a flower arrangement in any style you like.
Pineapple-shaped planter stick
Planter sticks are an innovative item that make flowers and plants in planters look stylish.
This time, we’ll make planter sticks using pine cones.
Since we want to finish them in a pineapple shape, let’s trim the pine cones with scissors.
Be sure to take safety precautions, such as wearing gloves.
For the finishing touch, paint them with acrylics.
Finally, be careful when threading the wire, and have staff assist with this step.
Ozoni on a puzzle mat
Let’s make ozoni—an essential New Year’s soup—using puzzle mats you can even find at 100-yen shops! It’s also a great craft activity that engages seniors’ fine motor skills.
First, cut the puzzle mat to the size of square mochi.
Next, fill a white balloon (with the tip cut off) with cotton and cover the puzzle mat piece.
Attach felt to the back, and use a pen to add toasted markings—your main mochi is done! You can also make toppings like kamaboko and shiitake mushrooms by combining puzzle mats and felt, so give it a try.
Since the shape of the mochi and the ingredients can vary by region, have fun making the style of ozoni you’re most familiar with!