The traditional Japanese daruma has long been cherished as a good-luck charm.
For that reason, it’s used as a New Year’s decoration, carried as a talisman for guaranteed victory, and is also a popular charm for entrance exams.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole range of ideas for making your own daruma by hand! We’ve picked out a wide variety, from easy ones made by crumpling newspaper into a ball, to sewing and knitting projects, and craft-style versions using paper plates and paper cups.
Find ideas that fit your needs—who will make it, how long it will take, and more—and create a wonderful daruma of your own.
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Handmade Daruma ideas roundup: Daruma made with various materials (1–10)
Easy and cute Daruma origami
As we welcome the New Year, let’s make the perfect daruma for setting our goals.
First, crease the origami paper in half vertically and horizontally.
Fold along the creases to shape the outline of the daruma.
Since it’s a daruma, the key is to round the corners for a softer, curved shape.
For the body, decide the width while adjusting the overall balance.
Once you draw the daruma’s facial features—eyes, mustache, and eyebrows—it’s complete.
If you use different colors of origami paper, you can create various types of daruma; lining them up might look festive and be a lot of fun.
daruma stacking
How about a DIY game you can enjoy making? In the spirit of the New Year, it’s a game where you stack lucky Daruma dolls.
Combine two empty containers, like those from finished instant cup noodles, to create a Daruma.
You can cover them with construction paper or paint them—both would look great.
If everyone makes one, you’ll end up with a delightful variety of unique Daruma dolls.
Then, stack the finished Daruma as high as you can without them toppling over.
It’s an idea that’s sure to be a hit in both individual and team play, bringing lots of smiles.
Pom-pom daruma
This daruma has a charmingly round, adorable look.
First, wrap yarn around a fork 60 times to make a pom-pom, then tie on a smaller pom-pom made by wrapping 40 times to balance the head and body.
Trim the excess with scissors to shape it, and finish by attaching a felt face.
It’s fun to vary the yarn colors and facial expressions to give each one its own personality.
They’re perfect not only for New Year’s but also as winter decorations.
A heartwarming idea that combines a pleasant touch with cute looks.
Daruma wall decoration made with paper plates
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♬ Mela! – Ryokuoushoku Shakai
A friendly, paper-plate Daruma wall decoration that feels warm and humorous.
First, cut out the center of a craft paper plate, punch a hole at the top, and thread a red string through it to prepare it for hanging.
Place a paper-made Daruma face and body in the center, then add festive New Year motifs like pine, bamboo, and plum around it for extra flair.
By drawing different expressions and changing the background colors or arrangement of decorations, you can create a unique piece.
It’s a fun craft to make with children, and once finished, it brightens up the space when hung on the wall.
An easy yet striking idea that elevates the New Year mood.
roly-poly daruma
Fun for the whole family! Try making New Year’s decorations with paper clay.
You’ll need paper clay, marbles, empty capsules, paints, brushes, and so on.
It’s fun to shape the paper clay to match the zodiac animal, but the painting stage will really let personalities shine, too.
By putting a marble inside a capsule, you’ll create an adorable daruma that moves unpredictably—kids are sure to love it! Try varying the sizes for adults and children, and enjoy decorating as you create.