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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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 preschoolers to graduating kids! A collection of handmade graduation gift and keepsake ideas (31–40)

Cherry Blossom Medal

https://www.tiktok.com/@sachimama_asobi/video/7349553972010634498

We’d like to introduce a cherry blossom medal that’s perfect for celebratory occasions like kindergarten entrance ceremonies, school entrance ceremonies, and class advancement ceremonies.

Because it involves some complex folding and the use of scissors, it’s a craft best suited for older kindergarteners and elementary school children.

It may look difficult at first, but since there are many repeated steps, kids will likely get the hang of it after folding it a few times.

It makes a lovely gift from teachers, of course, but also as a present made and given by current students.

We also recommend attaching a message card on the back.

Please put your heart into making it!

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a bouquet of tulips

[Easy Origami] How to Make a Tulip Bouquet for Graduation and School Entrance ♡ With Ribbon, Message Card, and Wrapping

a bouquet of tulips

Fun to make and delightful to receive! Here are some ideas for a bouquet of tulips.

What you’ll need: origami paper in your favorite colors cut into quarters, origami paper for the stems, origami paper for the wrapping, a ribbon made from origami paper, scissors, and glue.

The appeal of this idea is that the steps are simple and easy to follow.

For the stems, you can trim and shape them with scissors, so don’t worry if things shift a bit as you fold! For the wrapping paper, using patterned origami paper works nicely too.

Feel free to get creative and add your own touches!

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necklace

Made using only thread and beads! How to make an easy flower necklace

necklace

If they’re around preschool or kindergarten age, many kids are interested in fashion.

So how about making a handmade accessory as a gift? A necklace is especially recommended because it’s easy to wear regardless of body size.

You can make one simply by threading beads onto fishing line.

Plus, since no metal findings are used, it’s a safe choice even if the child has allergies.

By the way, you can also customize the design by changing how you tie the fishing line.

Start by deciding on the shapes and colors, then give it a try.

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randoseru (Japanese elementary school backpack)

A school backpack you can make with a single sheet of origami—surprisingly easy♪

randoseru (Japanese elementary school backpack)

The origami school backpack, which expands the sense of anticipation for a new life, is a perfect project for the spring school entrance season.

First, crease the paper to divide it vertically into four equal sections.

Fold in the quarter-width sections from the top and bottom, then make cuts along the creases to create the flap.

Cut the marked areas to make the shoulder straps.

As you fold the remaining parts, adjust the shape to form the backpack’s silhouette.

For a cute finishing touch, you can add a traffic safety cover.

If the folding steps for shaping the backpack are difficult, work together and consult with friends as you go.

Displaying the completed backpack will express the excitement of starting school.

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Making gifts for kindergarten graduates

[Easy Craft] A Gift for Preschool Graduates! A Photo Frame Made from Cardboard [Age 3] (ASMR-style Video)

Making gifts for kindergarten graduates

How about incorporating the graduation gift into a craft activity where the current students make presents for the graduates? Let’s create gifts that are fun to make, memorable for the graduates who receive them, and practical to use.

For example, you can use cardboard or empty boxes to make photo frames and insert photos of memories from the preschool, or make pencil holders from milk cartons or plastic bottles, as well as bookmarks that will be useful in elementary school.

Put your heartfelt wishes for the graduates into these wonderful gifts.

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From current kindergarteners to graduates! A collection of handmade graduation gift and keepsake ideas (41–50)

flower(s)

[Crafts] 3 Flower Projects Perfect as Preschool/Kindergarten Graduation Keepsakes

flower(s)

Flowers are an essential part of celebrations like kindergarten graduation.

Giving real flowers is lovely, but handmade ones are easier to keep and can convey your feelings even more.

There are many variations—using paper cups, origami paper, or yarn—and the materials you choose change the texture and look, which is part of the charm.

It’s fun to think through the possibilities, like how to shape the petals so they spread out, or which colors will make a beautiful flower, because the range of creative options is so wide.

Once the flower is finished, you attach it to a stick; paying extra attention to the decoration there might make it look even more like a real flower.

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candy necklace

[Graduation/Present] Give candy necklaces as a gift to the friends who were kind to you!

candy necklace

Small bags filled with candy come in such pretty colors that just looking at them can lift your spirits.

Let’s use those candies to make a necklace.

Wrap the candies in clear sheets, decorate them with ribbons and the like, and then link them into a loop.

Choosing which candies to use is also an important point—by gifting someone your favorite candies, you can let them learn a bit about you.

In the future, when that person sees those candies, it might remind them of you.

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