Lovely senior life

[Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Autumn is full of delicious foods and is a comfortable season to spend time in, so it’s easy to make progress with your hobbies.

Many seniors may also be looking forward to enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves.

In this article, we introduce recommended craft ideas for October.

We’ve gathered many ideas, including decorations themed on maple leaves—the quintessential symbol of autumn—pumpkin decorations perfect for Halloween, stylish pieces that can be displayed as interior decor, and craft ideas useful for recreational activities at day service centers.

If you’d like, give them a try!

[Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October (91–100)

Cute cosmos

[Origami] How to make a cute cosmos flower

Cute cosmos

The flower name “cosmos” is written with the characters for autumn and cherry blossom (秋桜) because its petals resemble those of cherry blossoms.

This time, let’s make a cosmos flower with origami.

By folding a single sheet of paper finely to create each petal, you can nicely express the flower’s distinctive jagged notches.

Since a cosmos has eight petals, prepare eight sheets of origami.

Also, the yellow central disk of the flower, made by snipping fine cuts into the paper, turns out beautifully.

If it strikes you as somewhat similar to a chrysanthemum, that’s because cosmos is a member of the Asteraceae family and is also known by another name, “Ōshagiku” (literally, great spring wheel chrysanthemum).

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Handmade pumpkin garland

Easy Halloween Craft: How to Make a Handmade Pumpkin Garland | Craft Kit | Great for Elementary School Kids and Preschoolers | Elementary School Entrance Exam Projects | Arts and Crafts | Decorations | Halloween Garland DIY | Senior Recreation | Wall Decorations | Autumn Crafts

Handmade pumpkin garland

If you want to enjoy the Halloween mood easily, handmade garlands are recommended! A garland that instantly brightens up a wall can also lift the spirits of older adults.

By combining strips of construction paper, you can make simple yet cute pumpkins.

You can also make these pumpkins in different colors! If cutting the paper into strips feels tedious, paper tape is a convenient alternative.

Adding other Halloween motifs to the garland—not just pumpkins—will make it even more festive.

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origami mushroom

[Origami] Mushroom – Make it with just one sheet of origami paper!

origami mushroom

Autumn is the season when leaves pile up on the ground, and it strongly evokes the image of mushrooms growing beneath them.

Let’s make one of these autumn symbols—a mushroom—using a single sheet of origami paper.

The steps bring the colored side to the cap and the white reverse side to the stem.

Pay close attention to the reverse folds to create a clear step between the cap and the stem, then refine the shape with small adjustments to give it an overall rounded look.

It already looks like a mushroom as is, but it’s also fun to develop creativity by drawing your own patterns to make it look even more mushroom-like.

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Origami Fallen Leaves

[Origami] The easiest-to-understand way to fold a fallen leaf ☆ with folding diagram | origami Leaf

Origami Fallen Leaves

Speaking of autumn, it’s the season when the leaves on the trees turn brilliant colors, and even the scenery after they fall is beautiful, isn’t it? Let’s recreate those beautifully colored leaves with origami.

Fold the paper into a triangle, then add creases to suggest the leaf veins.

The key is to fold along the line that will become the center of the leaf and make the creases there.

Finally, shape it to give it a gentle roundness, trim the edges, and open it up to reveal your finished leaf.

Make leaves in a variety of colors to capture the full feeling of autumn foliage.

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Matsutake mushroom origami

[Origami] How to Fold Autumn Delicacy “Matsutake Mushroom”

Matsutake mushroom origami

Let’s recreate the matsutake mushroom—an iconic flavor of Japan’s autumn—using origami.

A key point is to use both sides of the paper to clearly show the color difference between the cap and the stem, while shaping the overall form with a gentle roundness.

Once the piece is neatly folded, it’s also a good idea to draw patterns to make it look even more like a matsutake.

Try imagining a seasonal scene where matsutake are arranged—such as a circular layout inspired by a woven basket—so the mushrooms feel naturally grouped and evocative of the season.

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