[For Seniors] July-Themed Origami: A Collection of Fun Ideas
July is the season for fun events like Tanabata and fireworks festivals.
Many people also think of flowers that bloom gloriously in July, such as sunflowers and Chinese lantern plants (hozuki).
As we age, our sensitivity to temperature tends to dull, making it harder to feel the heat.
Since July leads us into the height of summer, why not try some origami activities indoors where it’s cool? Creating pieces that are perfect for July is a fun way to feel the season.
Let’s keep those fingers moving and make it a helpful activity for dementia prevention, too!
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[For Seniors] July-Themed Origami: A Collection of Fun Ideas (21–30)
Goldfish made with origami
Here’s an idea for making a goldfish using two sheets of origami paper.
If you use 15 cm paper, the goldfish will turn out quite large, so if you want to make a smaller one, cut the paper into quarters and use that.
With the first sheet, make the goldfish’s head and body, as well as the dorsal and pectoral fins.
With the second sheet, make the decorative tail fin.
Basically, you’ll create creases and fold along them, but for the tail fin you’ll need to open up the pockets to squash them and fold the edges narrowly, so proceed carefully.
Once both parts are finished, attach them together, add the eyes, and you’re done.
goldfish wind chime
On hot summer days, hearing the tinkling sound of wind chimes—“chirin, chirin”—can make the heat feel more bearable.
Many older adults may also associate wind chimes with the image of summer.
With that in mind, here’s a perfect summer craft: a goldfish wind chime.
The goldfish will be made with origami.
Because the goldfish has a three-dimensional finish, attach it to the bell portion of the wind chime and add a tanzaku (paper strip).
If you also attach a small bell, you’ll hear a gentle sound every time the wind blows.
Older adults may find it novel that you can make a wind chime out of origami.
Colorful streamers
In some places, the Tanabata Festival is held in summer, right? Nothing sets the mood quite like Tanabata decorations.
Here’s a colorful paper streamer you can make with origami that also works great as a wall decoration.
Leave about 1.5 centimeters uncut from one end of the origami paper, and make slits about 1 centimeter wide.
Attach a strip of origami paper the same width as the portion you left at the beginning, then roll the whole sheet into a tube.
Thread a string through, and your streamer is complete.
It looks lovely on its own, but making a paper kusudama (decorative ball) and attaching it to the streamer makes it even prettier.
Older adults who enjoy origami might also have fun making this.
By the way, the streamer represents the weaving threads offered by Orihime, and displaying it is said to carry the wish for improvement in sewing skills.
Let’s make fireworks with paper quilling
Fireworks put you in an emotionally rich mood and provide a wonderful kind of stimulation, don’t they? They’re especially beneficial for the brains of older adults.
As we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to lose a sense of contrast and of the seasons, so seasonal events are very important.
When you make a fireworks craft, you can imagine the summer that’s just around the corner.
This time, I’ll introduce a fireworks craft using origami and bamboo skewers.
First, wrap the origami paper around the bamboo skewer.
Then attach them to construction paper to depict the fireworks.
The steps are very simple, yet the result is a splendid display of fireworks, so I highly recommend it.
Tanabata Wreath Made with Origami
We’d like to introduce a Tanabata wreath you can make with origami.
When you hear “Tanabata,” what do you think of? Orihime and Hikoboshi, stars, bamboo? Let’s fold origami based on those Tanabata images and attach them to a wreath.
There are many origami designs for Orihime and Hikoboshi, ranging from simple to intricate.
An origami wreath is made by combining identical wreath components.
It seems like a lovely activity to do with older adults while reminiscing about Tanabata memories.
Fireworks paper cutting
When you watch fireworks, many of you probably feel your daily fatigue just blow away.
The loud booms echo alongside the beautiful silhouettes floating in the night sky, giving you an indescribable sense of exhilaration.
This time, let’s express those fireworks as paper cutouts.
All you need is origami paper and scissors.
Simply fold the paper and make a few cuts to create the fireworks silhouettes.
Paste them onto construction paper, and you’ll have a lovely fireworks scene.
Hang it on the wall, and it becomes a perfect piece to enjoy the summer.
Fireworks made with ring decorations
When it comes to fireworks, they’re a hallmark of summer, aren’t they? The beauty of fireworks bursting across the night sky moves the heart in an indescribable way.
They also stimulate the brains of older adults, which can help prevent dementia.
This time, I’ll introduce a craft: a burst firework made with paper chains.
You create rings out of origami and then combine them to form a firework.
Making the rings involves fine handwork, which provides good stimulation for the brain.
Let’s enjoy the activity together—chatting about fireworks as older adults work side by side.