Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: A Roundup of May Craft Ideas

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

May is a lovely season of fresh green leaves, isn’t it?

Here are some easy craft ideas perfect for day-service activities in May.

May is full of events like Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.We’ve gathered craft ideas that tie in with those occasions.

Many of the projects introduced here can be taken home and displayed, so you can enjoy looking at them at home.

They also make great gifts for your grandchildren.

Some can even be used for a garden tea party or a stroll, so be sure to give them a try.

[For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: May Craft Ideas Roundup (101–110)

Heart-shaped woven basket

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Heart-shaped woven basket

A heart-shaped woven basket made with reversible crepe sheets is both eye-catching and practical.

Prepare two crepe sheets in different colors and cut them to the same size.

Make evenly spaced slits in each sheet, then weave them together alternately to create a lattice pattern.

Once the weaving is finished, cut the whole piece into a heart shape and attach a handle to complete it.

Tight weaving makes it sturdy, so it can hold sweets or small items.

Taking advantage of the reversible material to create a colorful design makes it even more festive.

It’s an easy project that offers a sense of accomplishment and helps with finger dexterity for older adults, making it a great take-home craft for day service programs.

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Shrink plastic initial key holder

Revolutionarily clean baking! How to make a fail-proof flower initial keychain using 100-yen store stickers on shrink plastic [DIY fan merch] – How to make shrink plastic

Shrink plastic initial key holder

Let’s try making an initial keychain using a plastic sheet, commonly known as a shrink plastic (Plaban).

Cut the sheet into the shape of an initial and heat it in a toaster oven.

It will shrink to about a quarter of its original size.

With the right baking technique, you can prevent the plastic from burning.

Before heating, sketch your design and color it with an oil-based marker or Posca pens, or try adding stickers after baking.

Older adults can enjoy making these too.

A one-of-a-kind initial keychain made from shrink plastic—once it’s finished, attach it to your house keys or bag.

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duct tape rose

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duct tape rose

A vivid rose with appealing three-dimensionality made using duct tape.

You’ll craft individual petals and then assemble them, so it really tests your focus on detailed handwork.

It’s important to leave adhesive areas on the petal and stem pieces; aligning these while wrapping them around a bamboo skewer gradually forms a natural rose shape.

Don’t just wrap tightly—be mindful of how the petals spread as you wrap.

That little bit of technique is key to maintaining concentration and achieving a beautiful result.

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Koinobori made with tsumami-zaiku

[Tsumami Zaiku] Let’s make carp streamers to display in a frame! Children’s Day – Tango no Sekku

Koinobori made with tsumami-zaiku

Koinobori carp streamers swimming majestically across the fresh May skies.

In some areas lately, chances to see koinobori have been decreasing.

For many older adults, Children’s Day and the Boys’ Festival may bring to mind these carp streamers.

So let’s make a koinobori frame decoration that looks as if it’s really swimming.

If you use the tsumami-zaiku technique for the koinobori’s body, it will give a scaly look.

Tsumami-zaiku is one of Japan’s traditional crafts.

The maru-tsumami, made by folding small pieces of fabric into triangles, seems perfect for the scales.

Craftwork that uses your fingers can also be expected to stimulate the brain.

If you also make iris flowers with tsumami-zaiku and arrange them in the frame, it will turn out even more lovely.

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Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns

[Origami and Colored Construction Paper] Cute Koinobori with Puffy Scales (with Audio Commentary)

Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns

Here is a carp streamer (koinobori) you can display indoors at your facility.

Many places change their wall decorations monthly, don’t they? Among older adults, some say they can feel the season through wall decorations related to the events or festivities that represent each month.

Koinobori decorations can remind older adults of Children’s Day and Tango no Sekku in May.

With their charmingly plump scales, these carp streamers are fun not only to make but also just to look at.

The scales, made from two sheets of origami paper, aren’t a difficult step, so many seniors should be able to make them.

Looking at the wonderful koinobori they’ve made themselves will also give them a sense of accomplishment.

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[For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: Summary of May Craft Ideas (111–120)

Carp streamers made of felt

Super easy ✨ Make a Koinobori with felt 🎏 Everything from the 100-yen shop!! #shorts #Koinobori #felt #handmade

Carp streamers made of felt

Let’s try making a carp streamer (koinobori) using felt, which is known for its soft touch.

If you attach craft pom-poms to a rectangular piece of felt fixed to a stick, you can create the look of the carp’s scales.

Add eyes and a tail fin to the carp, and try attaching a windsock and a decorative pinwheel as well.

How about also making the banner top in felt to go with it? Another key point is that the overall impression of your koinobori will change depending on the color of felt you use.

Seniors, too, are sure to smile while creating these cute koinobori crafts.

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Koinobori made with paper cores

[Craft] Paper Tube Koinobori: Children's Day (Tango no Sekku)

Koinobori made with paper cores

Here’s a cute carp streamer craft using paper tubes.

After you finish a roll of toilet paper or kitchen paper, you’re left with the cardboard tube.

These tubes are usually made of thick paper, and their cylindrical shape makes them perfect for crafting.

Cover the tube with origami paper in colors like red or blue, then cut the tail fin.

Use round stickers to make the eyes and scales and stick them on.

You can display the piece on a wall at this stage.

For an extra touch, punch a hole and insert a chopstick so it can stand upright.

It’s also nice to display in seniors’ rooms.

The shape of the paper tube beautifully captures the rounded form of a carp streamer.

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