[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
Origami is a popular recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Finger exercises are effective for stimulating the brain, and displaying completed pieces or feeling a sense of accomplishment adds to the enjoyment.
May is a month filled with events, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.
So this time, we’ll introduce origami with a May theme.
Origami that activates both the fingers and the brain while feeling the season—and offers a sense of achievement—can be considered an ideal recreation for older adults.
By all means, try making May-themed origami together with the older adults around you.
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- Simple origami that can be folded from a single sheet
[For Seniors] Introducing May-Themed Origami! (81–90)
Lotus Blossoms and a Ladybug
Small pink flowers that bloom from around April to June.
When Chinese milk vetch blooms, you can feel the transition from spring to early summer.
This time, we’re sharing an idea for a wall decoration featuring ladybugs flying over a field of Chinese milk vetch.
Make templates from thick paper, then create the petals and calyx.
Combine the petals to form a single flower.
To add a three-dimensional effect, gently round the tips of the petals using scissors.
Make the stems and leaves, and attach each piece to complete the design.
The ladybugs are also crafted to look three-dimensional, so please use that as a reference.
It’s an idea that will instantly brighten the walls of a senior care facility—give it a try!
Aoi
The hollyhock blooms in vivid colors from early to mid-summer.
As a May wall decoration idea, I recommend hollyhocks.
Fold a pink sheet of origami paper into thirds both vertically and horizontally, then cut it into nine small squares.
Use the video as a reference to form the flower shape.
Recreating the inner pattern involves very detailed work, so be careful not to cut yourself.
This extra step makes the flower look authentic, so it’s an important point! Once you’ve made the leaves and butterflies, arrange them and you’re done.
Since there are many fine steps, this project seems perfect for older adults who are skilled at origami and papercutting.
Everyone, give it a try!
Tulip
Here’s an idea for folding a three-dimensional spring flower, a tulip.
First, make a “zabuton fold” with the origami paper, then fold it in half into a triangle twice.
Open up the overlapping triangular sections to squash-fold them into squares.
On both sides, fold the left and right corners diagonally upward so they align with the center line.
Next, turn and shift the paper so that the sides you just folded are on the inside, and slightly fold the lower left and right edges of the sides you haven’t touched yet inward.
Finally, gently open the top opening while pushing inward, and the tulip flower is complete.
If you make a stem and leaves with another sheet of origami and attach them, it will look just like a real tulip!
Tulips and windmills
The wall decorations of tulips and windmills that evoke a spring atmosphere feature a bright, warm design.
Cut red and yellow origami paper to make tulip petals.
By snipping the tips of the petals and overlapping them with glue, you create a three-dimensional effect.
Make the stems and leaves with green origami paper; when arranged on the wall, it gives the impression of a field of spring flowers spreading out.
For the windmills, cut out the base and cross-shaped parts and assemble them into a windmill shape.
Finely cut the propeller parts, add windows and decorations, and glue them on for even more depth.
The vivid colors of the tulips and the windmill design create wall art that conveys the warmth of spring.
Poppy
Poppies, which bloom from spring to summer, are also known as hinageshi or gubijinsō, and they produce colorful, round, and charming flowers.
This craft aims to create poppies that feel like the joy of spring, making them look three-dimensional as if they’re popping out from the backing paper.
You cut origami into petal shapes and assemble them into a flower, layering the pieces after making slits to give the flower a three-dimensional form.
Once the petal outline is done, place yellow in the center, and finally combine it so it looks like it’s blooming from the stem and leaf pieces attached to the backing paper, and you’re finished.
Mother’s Day wreath
Here’s a cute wreath idea perfect for Mother’s Day.
You’ll make four parts—the wreath base, a ribbon, ShellieMay, and carnations—and then glue them together to finish.
For the base, make seven identical pieces and attach them to form a ring.
The ribbon can be made from a single sheet of origami paper.
For ShellieMay, fold the face and body separately, then draw the facial features with a pen to finish.
For the carnations, use small origami sheets and cut them into circles with scissors that create a zigzag edge.
Stack several layers to make each flower.
One alone will look a bit sparse on the wreath, so make a few.
Once all the parts are ready, glue them onto the base with good balance, and you’re done!
[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Inspired by May! (91–100)
Kintaro
May is known for Children’s Day.
On Children’s Day, some people display Kintaro instead of traditional samurai dolls.
Kintaro is a symbol of good health, making him perfect for a day that celebrates children’s healthy growth.
So here’s an origami idea for May: Kintaro.
In this idea, you’ll make Kintaro by separating him into the head, body, and clothing.
In fact, you only fold the head and body—the clothing is simply a quarter sheet of origami paper cut into a diamond shape and glued onto the body! Both the head and body use basic folds with no difficult steps, so seniors can enjoy folding them as well.