Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities

Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

In January, we have the longstanding Japanese traditional event, the New Year’s celebration.

Many day service centers and welfare facilities likely put a lot of effort into decorations themed around January, the start of a new year.

So this time, we’ll introduce January crafts recommended for day service programs.

It’s still quite chilly, so let’s enjoy craft activities you can do indoors!

Even after the New Year’s holidays, winter-themed decorations like snow motifs and plum blossoms can stay up and be enjoyed as they are.

In addition to decorations, we’ve assembled many works that are perfect for January.

There are lots of ideas, including auspicious items, practical pieces, and projects that incorporate creative twists in the materials.

By all means, use these January craft ideas as a reference.

[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service (111–120)

Daruma doll

I made a rolling cocoon toy with a daruma design♪ The construction paper size is 1.5 cm wide and 10 cm long! Wishing you a wonderful New Year ☺️🙌 #crafts #athomeplay #NewYear

Daruma doll

Let’s make a fun rolling Daruma doll! Handcrafting this good-luck charm might bring you fortune in the New Year.

It’s a craft idea that older adults can enjoy together, too.

Cut construction paper into three strips, glue them together in a banded lattice, then curve and attach them to form a sphere.

Place a marble inside.

Finally, draw the Daruma’s face on a round sticker, add it as a decoration, and you’re done! You can roll it for fun, and also arrange it as a New Year’s ornament.

Try changing the paper colors and adding decorations to create a Daruma full of personality!

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Various Daruma decorations

[Origami Winter] New Year’s origami decorations: various “Daruma” ornaments. Easy craft and wall decorations (for childcare workers and caregivers). Papercraft Daruma / DIY.

Various Daruma decorations

Why not try making New Year decorations featuring the lucky Daruma motif? It’s easy to get started with familiar materials like origami and construction paper, making it a great option for day-service recreation activities as well! You can paint the Daruma’s face with a brush like a first-calligraphy exercise, create pieces inspired by the traditional Daruma-otoshi game, or make a three-dimensional Daruma with just a few simple cuts—there are countless ways to enjoy Daruma-themed New Year decorations depending on your creativity.

Use them as wall hangings or tabletop ornaments to brighten up your space and welcome the New Year in style.

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Fluffy snow rabbit

[Winter Craft] Fluffy Snow Bunny Wall Decoration♪

Fluffy snow rabbit

Rabbits, with their fluffy feel, are perfect for winter and are often made out of snow.

Here, let’s make a snow rabbit wall decoration.

The snow rabbit itself is made from tissues.

Take about five tissues, crumple them into a ball, and shape them like a rabbit.

Once the shape is done, add the rabbit’s ears and eyes.

Use colored paper cutouts for the ears and dot stickers for the eyes.

The plum blossoms around it are easy too: stack and stick five red dot stickers together for each flower.

Place a small yellow dot sticker in the center.

It’s also cute to stick on snowflakes made with a hole punch.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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small decorative money envelope (pochibukuro)

With origami and washi tape… a handmade cash envelope #shorts

small decorative money envelope (pochibukuro)

Pochi-bukuro (little money envelopes) that come in handy for New Year’s.

Many seniors probably give their grandchildren New Year’s gift money tucked into these envelopes.

If they’re handmade, they feel even more heartfelt and lovely! With just origami paper and washi (masking) tape, you can make them easily—why not give it a try? The steps are simple, with few folds, so anyone can make them casually—that’s the key point! For the finishing touch, fold a strip of masking tape in half to make a decorative cord, wrap it around the envelope, and you’re done in no time.

Also, if you reverse the sides when using double-sided origami paper, it changes the look, so be sure to try that too!

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Fluffy chenille wish plaque (ema)

Gen Hoshino says “Let’s dance at home,” and we say “Let’s make it at home♪ Let’s make ema♪ Let’s make them as a family.” (This is a how-to video from Kanone Junior High on making handmade ema craft plaques.)

Fluffy chenille wish plaque (ema)

It’s an ema plaque with a three-dimensional feel, as if the area outside the written wishes is framed by a softly wrapped chenille stem (pipe cleaner).

Cut the panel into the shape of an ema, then make an inner cut and hollow it out.

Wrap the chenille around the outer frame, punch a hole at the top of the inner piece, cover the entire inner piece with construction paper, thread the chenille through the inner hole, tie it, and fit it in place to complete the whole piece.

Have everyone write their wishes on the inner construction paper.

With the frame thoroughly decorated, the wishes written on the inside are nicely emphasized.

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Coffee filter idea ema (votive plaque)

[Origami] New Year’s craft with a former preschool teacher mom: Making Ema plaques — Easy way to fold a tiger (Origami tiger tutorial)

Coffee filter idea ema (votive plaque)

When it comes to ema (votive plaques), the five-sided shape is the most familiar, but there are also versions inspired by auspicious motifs like fans.

Here’s an idea for an ema that evokes a fan shape, using a coffee filter.

The base is made with a simple step—cutting off the edge of a coffee filter—and then adding decorations such as the zodiac animal.

Since the base is thin, even if it’s somewhat soft, layering the decorations well is key to achieving a beautiful finish.

Think about balance as you place the decorations, including where to write your wish.

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Shishimai made from a tissue box

How to Make a Tissue Box “Shishimai (Lion Dance)” [Easy New Year’s Craft]

Shishimai made from a tissue box

How about making a square-faced lion using an empty tissue box? With a tissue box, construction paper, and a green plastic bag, you can do it easily.

First, cut the tissue box in half, leaving the bottom part intact.

Prepare another tissue box: cut one piece to 12 cm for the side and 5 cm for the front surface, and cut another piece to 2 cm.

Assemble these pieces and cover the front surface with red construction paper.

Create bold lion face parts from colored paper and stick them on, and you’re done.

The mouth opens and closes, which gives it an exciting, dynamic look and makes it fun to play with.

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