[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas: Boost Your Luck with New Year Decorations and Good-Luck Charms

menko (a traditional Japanese card-and-coin-flipping game)

Easy! Origami: How to make a paper menko [tutorial]

Let’s make a traditional toy, menko—familiar to many seniors—using origami! After you make it, how about enjoying a fun game of menko with your family or everyone at day service? You’ll create parts from two sheets of origami paper and combine them at the end.

By changing the color combinations, you can transform the look and finish with a charming menko! It’s perfect for New Year’s activities at day service or for making together with your grandchildren, so give it a try!

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miyabi

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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.)

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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kappamaki

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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)

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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kappamaki

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Toilet-paper kadomatsu

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll ‘Kadomatsu’: Easy New Year’s Craft

Here’s a decorative kadomatsu you can make by reusing toilet paper rolls.

It’s perfect for a New Year’s craft activity, so consider trying it at a day service center or similar setting.

Cut the ends of toilet paper rolls diagonally and wrap them with green construction paper to represent bamboo.

Make three of these and glue them together.

Next, take a rectangular piece of construction paper, snip fine cuts along the top and bottom edges, and wrap it around the bamboo to finish.

For an even more festive look, wrap red construction paper or washi-patterned paper over it.

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miyabi

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Felt kadomatsu

[No-sew] New Year Decoration Made of Felt / Felt Kadomatsu / DIY: How to Make a Felt Japanese New Year Decoration

Let’s try making a kadomatsu using warm, cozy felt fabric! You can make it without sewing, and since you’ll be using your fingers a lot, it’s perfect for finger dexterity training for seniors.

Cut out each part—pine, bamboo, and plum—from felt, then attach them with a glue gun or similar adhesive.

A good tip is to make the bamboo first as the base, then arrange the other plants while checking the balance.

Watching it gradually take on the look of a kadomatsu will likely be exciting for seniors, too.

You can also enjoy customizing it, such as by changing the decoration colors!

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miyabi

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Wobbling daruma

[Preschool Craft] New Year’s decoration: cute wobbly Daruma | Daruma doll for New Year’s decoration

You probably often see stationary daruma dolls, but wobbling ones are quite rare, aren’t they? This time, we’re introducing a daruma you can make with a paper plate and construction paper.

It looks lovely as a New Year’s decoration for your room and is also recommended as a wall decoration for New Year’s parties.

The process is simple—just cut the construction paper and stick it onto the paper plate—so it’s perfect for craft activities with seniors.

Craft activities help improve concentration and can even aid in preventing dementia.

Let’s all have fun making uniquely charming daruma dolls together.

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Nanaka

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Seven Lucky Gods origami

[Origami of the Seven Lucky Gods] Cute good-luck charm! How to fold a seated Benzaiten (Benten)

The Seven Lucky Gods are said to be a group formed by deities from various religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism.

They’re like the Avengers of the gods.

In fact, there are countries and regions where they’re considered the Eight Lucky Gods.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to fold the Seven Lucky Gods in origami? If you’re enjoying this at a senior facility, it might be nice to divide them among seven people so each person makes a different deity.

These days, there’s plenty of knowledge and information about origami available, from professional origami websites to hobbyist videos.

Find something that matches your skill level and give it a try!