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

lion dance

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

When it comes to New Year’s in Japan, you think of the shishimai lion dance, right? The way it wiggles around and playfully snaps at people’s heads makes it a charming New Year’s creature.

Let’s try making a shishimai using just an empty tissue box and construction paper! The steps aren’t difficult, so there’s no need to worry about how to teach it.

Plus, you can make the mouth open and close like a puppet, so it’s a craft you can play with even after you finish making it.

It’s considered lucky too, so it’s sure to delight older adults! Make it, play with it, and finally enjoy it as a room decoration.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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red-and-white folding fan

How to Make a Red-and-White Fan by Kimie Gangi

How about making red and white folding fans that create a festive, auspicious atmosphere? Prepare red and white construction paper and fold each one into fine accordion pleats.

Once folded, leave a small margin at the end and twist on a cord with gold wire—or a twist tie—to fasten and secure it.

Spread both the top and bottom firmly and shape it into a fan, and you’re done! Try combining both red and white fans for decoration to invite good fortune.

It’s also fun to make fans in various sizes!

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SAKI

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Good-luck daruma made with paper clay

[Video] Hands Hint Club at Home: “Make a Cute Wobbly Good-Luck Daruma with Paper Clay” [Official Hands]

Speaking of daruma, their round appearance and the way they right themselves after falling make them symbols of good luck.

There are many ways they’re used, such as intentionally leaving one eye blank and filling it in when a goal is achieved.

How about making one of these lucky daruma in an easy-to-display small size? Using paper clay lets you easily recreate the daruma’s rounded shape, and if you place a marble in the base, you can replicate its self-righting feature.

You can also choose any colors and expressions you like, so it might be fun to aim for a daruma with a unique personality.

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kappamaki

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ema (votive wooden plaque)

Easy 👍 Let's make an ema (votive plaque)!

Making ema plaques is a wonderful craft that everyone can enjoy.

Use origami or construction paper to create ema in any shape you like, and write your wishes on them.

Seeing so many words wishing for health and happiness lined up is exciting, isn’t it? Part of the charm is the joy of giving shape to your thoughts.

Sharing your finished ema with one another can also create a warm, friendly atmosphere.

You can choose any size you like, so make them in the dimensions you’re comfortable with.

Let’s start a fantastic year with ema filled with our New Year’s wishes.

A ceremonial arrow with an ema (wooden votive plaque) attached

[Craft Idea] Hamaya and Ema (a ceremonial arrow used to drive off evil) Paper Straw Craft (New Year) (paper straws) (activities for seniors and preschool) (wall decoration)

Let’s make a decorative New Year’s bow with an ema plaque! It’s a lovely craft that captures the traditional New Year atmosphere.

It’s great that you can easily make it with paper straws, construction paper, and items from the 100-yen shop.

The process engages concentration and fine motor skills, so it’s also good brain training.

Let’s craft with care, filling each piece with the individual wishes and hopes of each older adult.

Displaying the finished bow will make the joyful New Year spirit even stronger.

Let’s all have fun making it together and boost the New Year mood!

Hagoita (decorative battledore)

[100-Yen DIY] How to Make a Hagoita Decoration♪

Making decorative hagoita paddles is a uniquely New Year’s delight, isn’t it? Decorating them with beautiful washi paper, paper cords, and sparkling stickers is truly exciting.

It seems like a wonderful time to inspire the imagination and creativity of older adults.

If everyone shares ideas and works together, each person’s individuality will shine in the finished hagoita.

The hands-on work is also good exercise.

Displaying the completed paddles in the room will further enhance the New Year atmosphere.

With hagoita that everyone enjoyed making together, it feels like the perfect way to welcome a happy start to the year.

roly-poly doll

How to make a self-righting daruma (roly-poly doll)

This craft focuses on the classic good-luck Daruma’s ability to stand back up after falling.

It uses a roll from a roll of packing tape to create a cylindrical Daruma, and a nice point is that the face looks straight forward, making its expression easy to convey.

By attaching a battery to the lower inside of the tape roll, you add a self-righting mechanism.

Then simply wrap it with construction paper and design the expression on the front lid to finish.

You’re free to choose any expression you like, so aiming for a unique Daruma sounds fun too.

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kappamaki

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