[For Day Service Centers] February Craft Ideas: Decorations for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and the Feeling of Spring
February is a month when you can feel the arrival of spring even amid the cold.
For crafts at the day service, let’s choose activities that engage the hands while reflecting the changing seasons.
Seasonal crafts may make you look forward to spring and spark lively conversations.
February’s unique motifs—Setsubun ogres and ehomaki rolls, camellias and daffodils that bloom beautifully despite the cold, and Valentine’s heart decorations—are all heartwarming.
Crafts made with familiar materials like origami paper, Yakult containers, and felt are easy for anyone to try and bring great joy when completed.
Shall we enjoy creating warm pieces together that help us forget the winter chill?
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[For Day Service Centers] February Craft Ideas: Decorations for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and the Feeling of Spring (121–130)
Oni bag
Speaking of Setsubun, the goal is to drive away demons, right? Demons are indispensable to the tradition, and this time, let’s make a bag to hold the beans you’ll use to chase them away.
It’s a cute demon-themed bag that people of all ages can enjoy.
Prepare items like a paper bag, double-sided tape, straws, and construction paper.
Just stick a demon you’ve made from construction paper onto the paper bag, and it’s done in no time.
Be sure to design the demon’s underwear (pants) cutely, too.
You can use this demon bag to hold beans for bean-throwing, or as a decoration for Setsubun.
Paku-Paku Demon
Let’s make “Pac-Pac Oni” (chomping ogres) for the February event Setsubun and have fun playing together.
Cut a slit in the middle of a red sheet of origami to create the ogre’s mouth.
Then, using that mouth as the center, add eyes and horns with origami, and make shaggy hair with yarn to finish it off.
This activity is sure to be a hit both in individual day-service settings and group day-service programs.
It’s also nice to make the ogre’s mouth chomp as you express words of gratitude that are hard to say in everyday life.
Hanging decorations for Setsubun
February 3rd is Setsubun.
It’s said that the change of seasons can affect your health, so people would drive away bad influences and invite good fortune.
There has long been a custom of wearing an oni (demon) mask and throwing beans at the oni.
Doing so is believed to chase away evil.
The custom of eating beans is said to come from the idea that beans contain energy.
Let’s make a must-have item for Setsubun: a hanging decoration.
You can easily make things like oni, ehomaki (lucky sushi rolls), and sardines with origami.
All the steps are simple and easy to try.
Japanese bush warbler
The bush warbler origami that heralds the arrival of spring is lovely.
The process of bringing a bush warbler to life from a single sheet of paper sounds very exciting.
Since the steps are simple, it seems like seniors could enjoy taking part as well.
Using your fingertips can also help stimulate the brain.
It’s fun to fold while chatting with others, too.
Displaying the finished bush warbler in a facility or your own room will make you feel the arrival of spring.
Even in the cold season, bush warbler origami can bring a heartwarming moment.
For Day Service Centers: February Craft Ideas—Decorations for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and the Coming of Spring (131–140)
Heart wall hanging
This heart-shaped wall decoration made with origami is recommended for seniors as a finger exercise and brain training activity.
Since the origami paper is cut into fine strips, it’s especially great for those who are good at detailed work! To make the hearts, cut the paper into strip shapes and curl them by running the strips against the scissors.
Create lots of these parts, then connect and layer them to transform them into a stylish wall ornament.
It’s perfect for making together with participants at a day-service center, so please give it a try!
In conclusion
Craft projects in February feature plenty of seasonal motifs—events and early spring flowers—making them perfect for creative activities in day-service settings.
Many pieces can be made easily with familiar materials, so try enjoying the process together with the people around you.
Displaying the works will brighten the entire facility and spark conversation.
May it be a warm time where you feel the changing seasons as you keep your hands busy.