[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
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: Boost Your Luck with New Year Decorations and Good-Luck Charms
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Let’s Make New Year Decorations by Hand! A Collection of Easy Ideas Using Everyday Materials
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
- Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
- For seniors: Snowman crafts to brighten January wall displays—fun ideas using origami, paper plates, and papercutting.
- [For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Craft Ideas Recommended for New Year’s and the New Year
- [For Seniors] Perfect for winter events! Easy craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Decorate your January wall with rabbits! Packed with ideas like snowball fights, New Year’s festivities, and rice cake pounding
[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service (21–30)
Fukuwarai of the Seven Lucky Gods
@chokipeta_factory Can you name the Seven Lucky Gods?#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare workerProductionNew YearFukuwarai
♬ Hoshiyume Drop – TOFU
How about playing Fukuwarai with the Seven Lucky Gods for a bit of good fortune? Ebisu, Daikokuten, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Hotei, Jurōjin, and Benzaiten—having the full set is truly impressive! After you finish the Fukuwarai game, you could even use them as New Year wall decorations.
It seems the Seven Lucky Gods illustrations are being prepared for sale, so they should become available for purchase before long, but if you’re good at drawing, you can make your own.
Another option is to use coloring-page illustrations that are available for free.
New Year cute rabbit ornament
Although it’s a simple piece that can be made from a single sheet of origami paper, its rounded form is charming and gently brightens up any room.
The folding instructions are explained as clearly and carefully as possible, so even those not used to origami can tackle it with confidence—a nice bonus.
All you need are one 15×15 cm sheet of origami paper, two 4 mm round stickers, and a pen.
The finished size is about 7 cm × 7 cm—easy to display—and it takes only about 10–15 minutes to make, so it’s easy to try.
[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service (31–40)
New Year Rabbit in Origami
With two sheets of 5 cm × 15 cm origami paper, some tape, a marker, and stickers, you can make this easy and charming seasonal craft.
The origami rabbit stands adorably upright, and the kimono made from origami is especially vibrant.
Simply changing the colors and patterns dramatically alters the mood, making you want to create several and display them together.
You draw the face yourself with a marker, so you can enjoy different expressions—that’s part of the fun.
Give it a big smile or a slightly bashful look; this step lets the maker’s personality shine.
Kadomatsu Rabbit
The little rabbit perched in the center of the kadomatsu, raising one paw like a beckoning cat to invite good fortune, is irresistibly charming and sure to bring a smile to your face.
Not only is it lovely as a New Year’s decoration, but the very process of making it by hand is part of the fun.
If you create it together with older adults, it will spark lively conversation about kadomatsu and the zodiac.
This “Kadomatsu Rabbit,” full of adorable charm that seems to draw in good luck, is perfect for your New Year’s décor—add it to your celebration and ring in a wonderful start to the year.
Good-luck New Year’s decoration: rabbit
A cute Zodiac ornament for New Year’s made with tsumami-zaiku.
At first glance it might not look like tsumami-zaiku, but the ears are carefully crafted using the double-round (W maru) pinch technique, giving the finished piece a charming, three-dimensional look.
The method is relatively simple, so even beginners can try it with ease.
Just placing it atop a small kagami mochi or a New Year’s wreath will add brightness and warmth to your space.
Its visual charm and the handcrafted warmth are appealing, making it a piece you can enjoy anywhere you choose to display it.
A Japanese-style ema (votive plaque) New Year illustration
@user346911418193 Hello everyone! ✨ This is Day Service Sukoyaka. This time, we made ema (votive plaques) to prepare for the New Year!#Production videoWelfare facilityKodomoen (combined childcare and kindergarten)#Kindergarten#Nursery schoolnursery schooldrawing paperI tried making it with construction paperKirie (paper-cut art)Work submission#Day Service SukoyakaTranslationElderly care facility#ChristmasEma (wooden votive plaque)Ema makingUsa Jingu ShrineJingu (Shinto shrine)Shinto ShrineInvite good fortunePrayerWishRecreationDay-service recreation#SimpleRecSmall groupLarge groupEma Artwork#Ema ProductionMust-see imitationEvent IntroductionEvent
♬ New Year song “New Year” (koto) – Shinonome
These are unique ema plaques decorated with New Year’s illustrations.
Use free images from the internet to gather illustrations like kites, kagami mochi, and the zodiac animal.
Paste them onto an ema-shaped backing covered with washi-patterned origami paper, then add messages such as wishing for an energetic year or good health to finish.
They’re easy to make and simple to prepare, so they’re perfect for a craft activity during the busy New Year period.
It’s also lovely to display ema made by seniors on the room’s wall.
The process of creating the pieces and seeing the finished works may help seniors recognize and feel that the New Year has arrived.
resin ema (shrine votive plaque made with resin)
@otsuko025_02pop It’s exam season, isn’t it? I made some “Ema in oshi colors 🐎.” Wishing all examinees the chance to show their full potential 🙏Handmade#HandmadeKeychainI want to connect with fellow handmade loversI want to connect with people who love handmade crafts.Resin#ExamTakersDoYourBestCharm2024#MugiMama's crew#GoodLuckExamTakersEma (wooden votive plaque)Prayer for success#OshiColorMy favorite color is Pearl Sapphire Blue.
Cute Tail – Rabbit Music9
You can make authentic ema (votive plaque) pieces using resin that hardens.
UV resin that cures in just a few minutes is recommended.
Pour resin into an ema mold, add pearls or beads, and cure it to create the piece.
Because the resin hardens quickly, older adults are likely to enjoy making it, too.
It might be nice to add a New Year’s message.
You’ll end up with a transparent, sparkly ema.
You can attach hardware to turn it into a keychain, or enjoy arranging it as a bag charm.