Welcome the New Year! Ideas for Handmade Kadomatsu
Kadomatsu, often displayed in front of homes and shops during the New Year, serve as markers to guide the Toshigami (New Year deity) to visit each household or business.
In this article, we introduce handmade kadomatsu ideas to help you welcome the new year filled with happiness.
We’ve gathered a variety of DIY kadomatsu options: easy-to-make versions, compact designs that don’t take up much space, and simple creations using materials other than bamboo.
Use these ideas as inspiration and try making your own kadomatsu to suit your display location and personal taste!
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Welcome the New Year! Handmade Kadomatsu Ideas (11–20)
Wall decoration kadomatsu
Wall decorations set the tone for a room.
For the New Year, make a kadomatsu wall decoration and welcome the year in a festive way! The basic method is to create a backing sheet and then attach various parts to it.
Using a bright red backing that evokes the New Year and decorating it with large kadomatsu pieces will result in a very vibrant finish.
In addition to kadomatsu, adding decorations themed around the zodiac animal of the year or plum blossoms will make it even more festive! All the parts can be made with origami or construction paper, so it’s easy even for beginners at handcrafting.
Give it a try!
Collaboration with succulents
An arrangement that adds a kadomatsu to a succulent planter is perfect for subtly bringing a New Year’s atmosphere into your room! Fill the container with soil, then place the kadomatsu and succulents in a well-balanced way.
For a more festive look, use plenty of red tones; if you want to tighten the overall look and create an elegant vibe, it’s recommended to include dark or black-toned succulents.
Finish by adding plum blossoms, nandina berries, or pine needles, and you’re done! After the New Year, swap the kadomatsu and decorations for seasonal items and enjoy a fresh arrangement.
Yarn Kadomatsu
Recreating Japanese tradition with amigurumi! This adorable crocheted kadomatsu features a rounded shape and the soft texture of yarn.
Crochet the base mat (mushiro) with brown yarn, then crochet the pine with green yarn and fit it into the mat.
Crochet each green bamboo stalk separately, bundle them together, and glue them on top of the pine.
Finally, decorate with red-and-white plum blossoms to finish.
For those new to crochet, this project may be challenging.
If you enjoy crocheting as a hobby, give it a try!
Paper construction Kadomatsu
Let’s make a kadomatsu using construction paper! The materials are construction paper, origami paper, and pipe cleaners.
They’re all easy to find at your local supermarket or 100-yen shop, which is really convenient.
When making it, divide it into three main parts: the bamboo section, the surrounding pine section, and the planter.
Each part can be made easily, almost like origami, so it’s great even for small children.
Finally, assemble the parts and add decorations to finish.
Kadomatsu sensory bottle
Let’s make a sensory bottle inspired by a New Year’s kadomatsu for babies and young children! A sensory bottle is a plastic bottle filled with glue and water, with beads and glitter floating inside.
Not only is it sparkly and beautiful, it also helps calm children’s minds.
Let’s finish the sensory bottle with colors and decorations to give it a kadomatsu-style look! It’s fun to make together with your child, so it’s also recommended as a New Year’s activity!
Decorated with tsumami-zaiku
Let’s try decorating a simple kadomatsu, which you can buy at 100-yen shops, with tsumami-zaiku! Tsumami-zaiku is a traditional craft technique passed down since the Edo period.
Using tweezers, you pinch and fold pieces of silk fabric like origami to form shapes—it’s a traditional art form.
Because it’s made from woven fabric, the uniquely plump finish of tsumami-zaiku is especially charming.
Give tsumami-zaiku a try and make decorations for your kadomatsu.
You’ll surely grow attached to your original kadomatsu!
Let’s welcome a great New Year! Handmade Kadomatsu Ideas (21–30)
Kadomatsu decoration made with paper plates
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♬ Cute marimba heartwarming kids(1035757) – ROUGHTY PRODUCTION
A kadomatsu decoration made with paper plates is lightweight, easy to handle, and appealing because anyone from children to adults can make it with ease.
Simply attach colored paper or artificial flowers to a paper plate and you’ll have a festive New Year’s ornament; all the materials are easy to find and very cost-effective.
It’s safe, can be displayed anywhere, and is perfect as an accent for your entryway or living room.
You can freely change the colors and layout to express your personality, and it’s highly photogenic.
It’s a fun, craft-like project that’s beginner-friendly and budget-friendly.
Widely appreciated as a handmade idea to brighten the New Year, it’s a charming decoration that combines convenience with cuteness.
