Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
Daruma dolls are popular as lucky charms that bring good fortune throughout the year.
They are often displayed to ward off illness and misfortune and to pray for household safety.
In this article, we’ll introduce crafting ideas for daruma decorations that are perfect for January wall displays!
We’ve gathered a wide range of motifs, from items used in New Year’s decorations to classic themes for wall art.
Many of the ideas can be made slowly while seated, making them great for recreational activities for seniors.
Try creating a wall display of daruma that you’ll feel attached to by drawing your own original patterns or adding messages.
Good-Luck Daruma: Craft Ideas for Decorating January Walls for Seniors (1–10)
Tatsu-daruma
Let’s make a dragon daruma inspired by the zodiac animal of 2024, the dragon.
It features a dragon with a rounded, daruma-like shape.
Dragons have long been cherished as legendary creatures.
And you can easily craft this dignified dragon with origami! All you need are things like origami paper, glue, a pen, and stickers—simple supplies you likely already have at home.
Draw the character for “good fortune” on the dragon’s belly to invite luck.
Since it’s three-dimensional, it also makes a great decorative piece for your room.
Rolling Daruma
There’s a children’s toy where a small car spins as it descends a long, narrow track.
The motion is fascinating, and it’s one of kids’ favorite toys.
Let’s try making a version of that toy using a daruma doll theme.
It may seem like a big project, but if you use empty milk cartons, you can make it easily.
Use thick graph paper to create the daruma and the track as well.
You can get most of the materials at a 100-yen shop.
As you play with the finished toy, some older adults might even find themselves reminiscing about playing with their own children or grandchildren.
Making a daruma doll with a toilet paper roll
The plump, round shape of a daruma is so cute, isn’t it? Let’s capture that cuteness in a craft using a toilet paper roll.
Cut the roll a little below the halfway point.
Making it in this size will give you a nicely rounded piece.
Use origami paper to attach the body, face, and patterns.
It’s a bit on the small side and involves plenty of fine work, but it’s a rewarding project.
When making it with older adults, please provide support as needed.
Seeing the finished piece may also help them feel the season.
Shichifuku Daruma (Seven Lucky Gods Daruma)
Many people likely made numerous prayers for the New Year, such as for household safety and achieving their goals.
With that in mind, we recommend a wall decoration featuring the Seven Lucky Daruma.
This involves creating seven daruma figures as paper crafts, each modeled after one of the Seven Lucky Gods.
Because of this, it’s considered auspicious for people with any kind of wish.
The key is to use different colored construction paper for each one and to make small props for them to hold.
That way, it’s easier to tell which deity each one represents.
Evil-warding Daruma
One traditional New Year’s pastime is daruma-otoshi (daruma knocking).
These days, there may be fewer households that play it.
Older people might remember playing it when they were young or with their children.
It’s a game where you try to knock out the pieces without letting the daruma on top fall.
If you make it to the end without dropping the daruma, it’s said you won’t face hardships for a whole year.
With that meaning of warding off misfortune in mind, let’s make a craft themed on daruma-otoshi.
For the base, we’ll use a toilet paper roll.
A toilet paper roll is perfect for the pedestal the daruma sits on.
Once you make the daruma on the very top of the pedestal, it’s complete.
To capture the feel of daruma-otoshi, the key is to slightly offset the rings made from the toilet paper roll.
Self-standing origami Daruma
Many eldercare facilities likely include origami as a recreational activity.
Origami can be done while seated, and moving the fingers may also provide brain-training benefits.
Some seniors might enjoy creating a variety of pieces.
This time, we’ll introduce a cleverly designed daruma that stands on its own, made from a single sheet of origami paper.
Origami creations often end up flat, don’t they? However, if you add a support at the back of the daruma to keep it from tipping over, it can stand upright.
Let’s fold both the daruma and its support from one sheet of paper.
Some parts are a bit detailed and complex, but if you enjoy origami, you’ll likely find it fun to make.
Try making a little cushion (zabuton) as well and display your creation.
Simple Daruma decoration
Let’s use an empty milk carton to make a daruma ornament.
You can of course hang the daruma you make on the wall, and if you also create a base to display it on, it will make a lovely New Year’s decoration.
Cut an empty milk carton into long, narrow strips to use as the structure.
Gently cover it with crumpled tissue paper to form the daruma’s body.
Add the face and patterns, and it’s complete.
It’s easy to make, so older adults can enjoy crafting it while chatting with those around them.
You can also adapt the design to match the zodiac of the year, so please try arranging it your own way.