[For Seniors] Easy Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service in July
In July, the heat really starts to set in.
Older adults may also spend more time indoors as a way to cope with the heat.
To enjoy the hot days of summer, we recommend indoor craft activities.
If you’re unsure what to make, try choosing crafts that match July’s events.
July features a variety of occasions, such as Tanabata and Marine Day.
For Tanabata, there are traditional decorations you can make to fully enjoy the season.
Be sure to read this article and use it to help plan July crafts for older adults.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy and Beat the Summer Heat! July Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Making a July Calendar: A Collection of Summer-Themed Motif Ideas
- [For Seniors] Early-summer-themed wall decorations: Recommended ideas for July
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Hot Summer to the Fullest! A Collection of Easy Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] July Events: Recommended Recreation Ideas for Senior Facilities
- For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service
- [Day Service] August Craft Ideas That Seniors Will Enjoy
- [For Seniors] A Collection of Craft Ideas Using Paper Cups
- Simple Crafts for the Elderly Recommended for Tanabata
- [For Seniors] Handmade Tanabata Decorations: Easy Recreation Activity
- [For Seniors] July-Themed Origami: A Collection of Fun Ideas
- [For Seniors] Wall Decorations to Enhance the Tanabata Atmosphere: Ideas Compilation
- [For Senior Daycare Centers] Ideas for Summer Take-Home Crafts
[For Seniors] Easy craft ideas to make at day service in July (151–160)
shooting star decoration
Let’s make shooting star decorations and have everyone make wishes for Tanabata! Cut star shapes out of construction paper and attach several colors of raffia ribbon to create a shooting star.
If you stick small star-shaped pieces onto the raffia ribbon, it will sparkle even more—highly recommended.
On the paper star itself, write your wishes or draw and paste pictures of Orihime and Hikoboshi to decorate.
You can use the finished piece as a wall decoration, or attach a string and hang it on bamboo.
milk carton lantern
Why not try making a lantern by reusing milk cartons, a familiar material for crafts? It’s a simple project, so it’s also recommended as a craft activity for day service programs leading up to summer festivals! Cut the milk carton and draw any patterns you like with pens or markers.
Next, make lots of slits, roll it into a cylinder, and staple the top and bottom in two places—and you’re done! Punch a hole at the top and thread a string through it to enjoy it as a hanging decoration.
You can even place an LED light inside the lantern! It’s the perfect craft to get everyone into the festival spirit.
3D star wall decoration
Decorate with three-dimensional stars and brighten up Tanabata! Use origami or construction paper to make 3D stars.
Thread string through the stars to create a garland that can be used as a wall decoration.
You can also hang them from the ceiling like sports day flags—highly recommended.
Make lots in various colors and you’ll have a galaxy of stars just like the Milky Way.
It might be nice to create them in different sizes, too.
Make them while sending your wishes to the stars.
A simple three-dimensional morning glory
This is a morning glory made from a single sheet of origami, cleverly using reverse folds and other techniques to create a three-dimensional, soft appearance.
Not only does it look good from the front, but the base is also shaped solidly like a real flower, making it easy to incorporate into decorations.
You cut the edge of the folded paper, then unfold it and fold it again while making use of the white on the back.
Because there are many fine reverse folds, the whole piece tends to wrinkle, but intentionally adding wrinkles is also recommended to achieve a softer-looking morning glory.
paper-cup wind chime
Here’s an idea for making wind chimes using paper cups.
First, attach origami paper with your favorite patterns to the sides and bottom of the paper cup.
That will be the outer appearance.
If you want to add decorations, using round or star-shaped stickers can make it look cute.
Once the outside is done, make a hole in the bottom, thread a string through, and attach a bell or a paper tanzaku (strip) to the end.
If you tie a ring to the other end, it will be handy for hanging by a window.
The steps are very simple, so please give it a try.
If you’re at a facility, hosting a wind chime design contest could be a fun activity as well.
Easy crepes with paper plates
Here’s a cute crepe craft idea using a paper plate.
First, take a paper plate that’s been colored yellow on the back side, roll it up with the white side inside so it looks like crepe batter, and glue it in place.
Then attach a circular piece of origami paper cut to about half the plate’s size on top to create the wrapper/holder section.
After that, decorate it with cotton, felt balls, and paper fruits made from construction paper, and your delicious-looking crepe is ready.
You can’t eat this one, but that’s exactly why you can go all out on appearances and pile on as many toppings as you like.
Try decorating with summer fruits and have fun!
Let’s make Orihime and Hikoboshi.
Doing activities that use the hands can help revitalize the minds and bodies of older adults.
By sharpening their tactile senses and focusing on the task, they can also provide beneficial stimulation to the brain.
Making Tanabata decorations and displaying them in the entrance or in a room can be a lovely way to enjoy the feeling of the season.
