Lovely handmade crafts

From current students to graduates! A collection of handmade graduation gift and keepsake ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

As graduation season approaches, many people start thinking, “We want to give heartfelt gifts from the current students to the graduating class.” If possible, you’d love to deliver something special that the children make with their own hands.

In this article, we introduce handmade gift ideas you can create using familiar materials like milk cartons and origami paper.

We’ve gathered a wide range—from easy projects to slightly more elaborate designs—so choose the ones that suit the children’s ages and your school’s policies!

From Current Students to Graduates: Handmade Graduation Gifts and Keepsake Ideas (11–20)

medal

Making photo medals with paper cups

medal

Watching athletes receive medals on TV and other media likely inspires many children.

For those kids, let’s celebrate their preschool graduation with a handmade “medal” gift! All you need are paper cups, a photo to stick in the center of the medal, and a ribbon to hang it around the neck.

By placing a photo of each child in the center, the medal feels even more special! It’s very easy to make, so give it a try.

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thanks tag

If you’re looking for a way to express your appreciation to graduates, thank-you tags are a great idea.

First, gather items like cookie cutters, air-dry clay, string, and a straw.

Start by mixing the clay to create your preferred color, then cut out shapes with the cookie cutters.

Next, use the straw to punch a hole near the top of each clay piece—this is where the string will go.

Finally, write or stamp a message on the clay and let it dry.

You can also decorate with beads or other embellishments to suit your taste.

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plastic shrink film keychain

[Simple & Cute] Basic Way to Make Shrink Plastic Crafts [For Beginners]

plastic shrink film keychain

Let’s make your own original keychains using plastic shrink sheets you can buy at 100-yen shops! Shrink sheets are thin plastic sheets that shrink and harden when heated in a toaster.

Many people enjoy using them for handmade crafts.

With standard shrink sheets, you can draw illustrations using pens, but recently there are types you can print photos on and ones that become semi-transparent when finished.

Let’s use shrink sheets to create keychains that can serve as a memento of graduation from kindergarten.

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corsage

[Graduation Gift Craft♪] Handmade Corsage ♪ How to make a DIY corsage easily.☆

corsage

The corsage, a classic for graduation ceremonies at kindergartens, feels special and makes a perfect gift! It’s fun to make and will delight the graduates—a win-win item.

Here’s an easy and cute corsage you can make using origami and tissue paper.

Even if you’re not good with crafts, no problem! Cut your favorite origami sheet into four equal pieces and fold each one in an accordion style.

Attach the folds with double-sided tape to create parts that look like paper fans.

Decorate a circle-cut piece of thick paper with a ribbon, the paper-fan parts, and a tissue-paper flower, and you’re done! Attach a safety pin to the back, and the current students can pin them on the graduates’ chests—they’re sure to love it.

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strobe bracelet

[Graduation Gift Craft♪] Easy Bracelet♪ How to Make DIY Bracelets☆

strobe bracelet

A simple yet colorful bracelet made by combining straws and beads.

Prepare finely cut pieces of straw and some beads, then thread them alternately onto a pipe cleaner.

It’s important to make it the right length to fit the wrist of the person you’re giving it to.

Finish the bracelet by shaping one end of the pipe cleaner into a loop and attaching a large bead to the other end to create a clasp-like structure.

Another appealing point is that you can make it in a variety of color schemes by choosing different pipe cleaner colors and types of straws and beads.

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