[For Seniors] Easy Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service in July

Orihime and Hikoboshi wall decoration

How to make an “Orihime and Hikoboshi” wall decoration! Easy with free templates! July, Summer, Tanabata, tanzaku strips, construction paper crafts, wall décor

One of the most popular events in July is Tanabata! It’s a wonderfully romantic day when Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet just once a year.

Many venues also hold Tanabata events in July.

Here’s a wall decoration idea that’s perfect for seasonal displays and craft activities leading up to events.

Try creating it with a focus on Orihime and Hikoboshi’s distinctive hairstyles and clothing! Cutting out each part and pasting them together uses the fingertips extensively, which can help improve cognitive function in older adults.

When displaying it on the wall, it’s also nice to decorate it together with the Milky Way, bamboo decorations, and tanzaku with written wishes!

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miyabi

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Translucent chopstick rest

[Senior Recreation] Rec Artisan Series Part 112: Making Translucent Summer Chopstick Rests with Resin

Tanabata, the July festival, often evokes images of flowing rivers and clear, translucent colors.

By making familiar items like chopstick rests in transparent hues, you can easily capture that fresh summer atmosphere.

The idea is simple: use an ordinary chopstick rest as a mold with resin, then add decorations.

If you choose a Tanabata theme, go for a sparkling, starry-sky feel; if you choose an ocean theme, aim for a refreshing look centered on blues.

It’s best to decide on a clear theme and add decorations to match it.

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kappamaki

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balloon goldfish

[Summer Origami] Traditional balloon goldfish – easy folding instructions with voice narration ☆ Origami Balloon Goldfish Tutorial / Tatsukuri

How about making a traditional origami balloon goldfish as a summer decoration? It’s great as an accent for your room’s interior or as a hanging ornament.

There aren’t any particularly difficult folds, so even seniors can try it with ease.

By blowing air into it at the end, it becomes three-dimensional and looks adorable! Since origami uses your fingers, it’s also perfect for finger dexterity training for seniors and for helping prevent cognitive decline.

You can add round stickers for the eyes, and using gradient or patterned origami paper would look lovely too!

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miyabi

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waterbed

[Summer Craft] Make an ocean-like waterbed using vacuum storage bags! [For Teachers]

A great place to be in the hot summer might just be on a water bed.

The soft, bouncy surface can even remind you of being in your mother’s womb.

Why not try making your own water bed? You’ll need a vacuum storage bag, water mixed with blue paint, and some decorations to put inside the bed.

It could be fun to make little fish or mermaid accessories out of plastic sheets, too.

It’s easy to make: simply pour the colored water into the storage bag and add your decorations.

Be sure to seal the opening tightly with tape so no water leaks out.

If you use a large storage bag, you could make one big enough to lie on… just thinking about it is exciting.

Wind chime decoration you can make with a clear cup

[Tanabata Decorations] A wind chime ornament you can make with clear cups ✨ [July Craft Project]

Wind chimes are said to have originated from “senfūtaku,” a practice of divination that interpreted good or bad omens based on the sound and direction of bells hung in bamboo groves.

Today, they’re a quintessential symbol of summer.

So how about making wind chimes using clear plastic cups? You’ll need a clear cup, a small bell, string, and a tanzaku (a narrow slip of paper).

First, decorate the clear cup with summery designs.

Shaved ice, watermelon, and fireworks are classics—feel free to use felt-tip pens or colored paper as you like.

After that, just thread the string through the cup and attach the bell and tanzaku.

Writing a summer haiku on the tanzaku is also recommended.

Lining up many wind chimes creates an atmosphere full of coolness and charm!

Tanabata tanzaku (wishing strip for the Star Festival)

A little twist to break the routine – Tanabata wish strips (July craft) (simple craft) (senior recreation) (seasonal craft) (wall display craft) (childcare)

Tanzaku for Tanabata where you write various wishes.

It’s common to write on rectangular pieces of origami paper, but how about changing the shape a little or adding decorations to make your tanzaku a bit different? For example, you could make a star-shaped cutout in part of the tanzaku, combine it with stars folded or cut from origami, or pair it with tissue paper or raffia tape.

There are many ways to arrange it, so create a lovely tanzaku that suits your taste!

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SAKI

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A simple star with paper cutting

On the night of Tanabata, when Orihime and Hikoboshi are said to meet only once a year, the real stars of the show are, of course, the stars themselves.

Let’s try making various star decorations out of paper.

Simply cutting colored paper into star shapes is plenty, but if you draw lines to create diagonals in a pentagon and fold along them slightly, you’ll get a three-dimensional star.

Using sparkly paper doubles the glitter effect, too.

You can also cut out a smaller star shape from inside a paper star to create a translucent-looking decoration.

Connect stars of different sizes, arrange them in a color gradient, and so on—share ideas with everyone and have fun creating.