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

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

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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miyabi

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Camellia flower

[Elderly Recreation] Easy January Camellia Flower Wall Decoration [Craft/Handicraft]

Camellia flower ornaments are a perfect craft idea for New Year’s as well.

First, fold white origami paper step by step.

Next, draw lines with a pencil to match the petal shape, and cut along the lines with scissors.

After cutting, layer the pieces so they become three-dimensional, and glue a rounded yellow “button” piece in the center.

Finally, add leaves made from green origami paper to finish.

For a more polished look, combine flowers with diameters of about 7–10 cm.

Give it a try!

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Yuuki

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small decorative money envelope (pochibukuro)

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

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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miyabi

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Ema with sponge stamps

[Senior Recreation] Rec Artisan Series Part 220: Ema (Votive Plaque) Making

Ema, the wooden plaques on which people write their wishes and hang them at shrines, are one of the key motifs that evoke the New Year.

Let’s easily make our own ema out of construction paper and decorate them beautifully with sponge stamps.

Even with a simple paper shape, adding brush-pen lettering and a red seal gives it a genuine ema feel.

If carving sponges to make stamps is difficult, another great approach is to prepare a variety of stamp patterns in advance and have people choose the one that best fits their wish.

It might be better to focus more on the writing aspect than on the crafting itself.

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kappamaki

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Paper craft Daruma

[Origami / Papercraft] How to make a daruma → We’ve released an improved version, so please check that one.

This is a three-dimensional Daruma mascot assembled from cut pieces of colored paper.

Although the assembly process might seem difficult, it’s actually a simple craft: you make a box and then attach parts like the facial features to it.

As you build the base, keep a clear image in mind to ensure the left and right sides are symmetrical and that there are no gaps.

The parts you attach include the face outline, expressions, and patterns that decorate the body—this is also where you can add originality.

You can display it as a mascot, and it also works well on a wall, where you can enjoy its three-dimensional feel.

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kappamaki

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Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

[Origami] Easy! 6 Ways to Fold Small Gift Envelopes (Pochi-bukuro) | [Origami] 6 Envelopes Tutorial | Handmade with DAISO Origami 🎍 New Year Preparations

The New Year marks the beginning of the year.

There are many fun things about the New Year—like osechi cuisine and traditional games—but for children, receiving New Year’s gift money (otoshidama) is also a big highlight.

Many people give otoshidama to their children or grandchildren during the New Year holidays.

How about making your own cute and beautiful pochibukuro—small envelopes for otoshidama or pocket money? Store-bought ones are fine, but otoshidama given in a handmade envelope crafted from pretty origami paper feels even more special.

All you need is origami with elegant, traditional Japanese patterns.

There are several folding variations, too.

With a bit of creativity, it’s a wonderful New Year’s idea that brings joy to both the giver and the receiver.

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nikki

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minibasket

[Super Easy] Mini Basket Made from a Milk Carton #dayservice #daycare #dayrehab #nursingcare #elderly #craft

During the cold season, we naturally spend more time gathered around the kotatsu.

A handy item for those moments is a mini basket made from a milk carton.

The steps are simple: cut the milk carton into a rectangle, glue on origami paper or colored construction paper, then make repeated valley folds to form the basket shape.

The final set of valley folds can be a bit tricky, so it helps to watch a YouTube video or read a blog tutorial and lightly score the fold lines beforehand for a cleaner finish.

Once it’s done, place it on the kotatsu and use it to hold mandarins or snacks.

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Yuuki

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