[For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November
November, when autumn deepens and you can feel the chill in the air.
For many older adults, it’s a season when they spend less time outdoors going for walks.
So this time, we’re introducing craft activities with the theme of “11” that can be done indoors.
We’ve prepared projects featuring seasonal foods and flowers that are at their best in November.
They can be enjoyed as decorations on facility walls or taken home as interior decor.
There are also projects that can be used to play games after they’re made.
By all means, try the games together with the older adults.
Some older adults may find it difficult to sense the passage of time or the seasons.
Through November-themed crafts, let’s help them savor the season.
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[For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November (1–10)
Wreath of nuts and berries
How about a cute, autumn-themed wreath made with nuts and other natural materials? First, prepare a wreath base.
You can make one yourself by winding vine branches, or buy a pre-made vine wreath at a 100-yen shop.
Then use a hot glue gun to attach the nuts.
The tip of the glue gun gets very hot, so please be careful when using it.
You can also buy the nuts at a 100-yen shop.
It’s also a great idea to pick your favorites during a stroll activity! You don’t have to cover the entire wreath base—leaving some gaps here and there can look stylish, too.
Try decorating your own piece of autumn in whatever arrangement you like.
autumn leaves wreath
Let’s make a fall foliage wreath you can enjoy indoors! First, use origami paper to make lots of maple leaf shapes.
It’s best to use a variety of autumnal colors like red, yellow, and brown.
Mixing different sizes will make the piece even more fun! Next, prepare a paper plate with the center cut out, and glue the leaves on at random until it’s complete.
Add a string or ribbon to hang it on a wall or door.
Even if you can’t easily go out to see the autumn leaves, you can feel the season through this craft.
Owl of Fallen Leaves
Introducing a cute owl craft idea using fallen leaves! All you need to do is cut construction paper into an owl shape and glue on a few leaves as the wings.
It’s recommended to add a creative touch by coloring the construction paper you’ll use here.
Drip a few colors of watered-down paint onto plain white paper and blow through a straw to spread the colors.
The irregular blend of hues creates a one-of-a-kind piece.
Then cut that paper into an owl shape and put it to use! Don’t forget to draw the owl’s eyes and beak.
You can also collect the leaves during a walk or recreational outing.
Have fun making a cute owl full of originality!
[For Seniors] Day-service recreation also recommended! Craft ideas for November (11–20)
Stained-glass-style wall hanging of maple leaves
Stained glass might seem like a high hurdle, but you can create something with a similar feel using glass paint you can even buy at a 100-yen shop! If you’re looking to include it in an autumn craft activity, how about a stained-glass-style wall decoration with a maple leaf motif? Draw the outline on a clear plastic sheet using a black glass pen, then color the sections you want in the same way with glass pens.
Arrange the colors however you like! Stained glass generally looks best with combinations of deep colors, so that’s recommended.
Since we’re not using actual glass as the base, it’s a safe project for older adults to enjoy making!
Colorful maple leaves made by cutting and folding origami
Autumn is a season when being alone can feel quietly lonely.
I think many seniors look forward to their day-service days.
If you have a big group, I recommend “colorful maple leaves made by cutting and folding origami.” The basic process is to make lots of small diamond shapes from origami paper and then glue seven of them together to form a single maple leaf.
The more people you have, the faster the work goes! Even the relatively simple task of making diamonds can become a fun time when everyone does it together.
Be sure to display and enjoy the finished maple leaf art.
Acorns made of paper cord and wool
I think there are many seniors who are very handy.
Some may have been carpenters or handicraft teachers—why not put those past skills to use and enjoy making display acorns? The materials are colored paper twine commonly found at 100-yen shops and lumps of wool or cotton.
Basically, you just wrap the colored paper twine around a lump of wool, and somehow you end up with impressive acorns.
The tricky part is wrapping the paper twine into a ring shape.
Is it similar to the way you wind a string for a traditional spinning top? Make lots of them and create a lively display!
Maple leaves made with tsumami-zaiku
Once you start to feel the autumn breeze, you’ll want to bring autumn-themed activities into your day-service craft sessions! How about trying handmade maple leaves using tsumami-zaiku, a traditional Japanese craft that evokes a classic aesthetic? Tsumami-zaiku is a technique passed down since the Edo period, where small pieces of fabric are folded and pinched, then combined to create shapes.
Because it involves delicate work, it can help older adults with dementia prevention and fine motor training.
It’s perfect for autumn décor and as a charming accent for accessories, making it a lovely gift as well.