[For Senior Care Facilities] Easy! September Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn Season
When it comes to September events and observances, the Mid-Autumn Moon, Respect-for-the-Aged Day, and the autumn equinoctial week come to mind.
These are long-standing traditions in Japan, so they should be familiar to many older adults.
In this context, we’re introducing simple craft activities suitable for senior facilities such as day service centers.
We’ve gathered many projects perfect for September, featuring motifs like moon-viewing rabbits and themes of longevity and health.
They’re fun to make, attractive to display, and likely to give a sense of accomplishment! Although summer is ending and autumn is approaching, some regions still experience hot days.
Craft activities are great because they can be done indoors and are accessible even for those who find physical movement challenging.
Please give them a try!
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- Moon-Viewing Wall Decor Ideas for Seniors
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- Simple, Recommended Autumn Crafts for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Enjoy September’s Autumn Fun! A Collection of Craft, Game, and Exercise Ideas
- Useful in care facilities! Ideas for autumn wall decorations
- [For Seniors] Simple Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn Season with Fall Foliage
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- [For Seniors] Introducing Fun Crafts Made with Plastic Bottle Caps
- Wall decoration ideas for seniors recommended for September
[For Senior Care Facilities] Easy! September Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn (11–20)
Pressed flowers with autumn wildflowers
When we think of pressed flowers, we often imagine spring, but there are plenty of flowers that bloom in autumn too.
The iconic cosmos alone has many varieties, and there are flowers like chrysanthemum, balloon flower, and fragrant olive that are delightful both to look at and to smell.
Why not try turning such flowers into pressed flowers? In the past, the common method was to press them with a weight for several days to draw out the moisture, but these days you can use a microwave to make them easily and significantly shorten the time it takes.
You can display the pressed flowers in a frame, or—since it’s the season for reading—make them into bookmarks.
Making a cosmos flower wreath
Speaking of cosmos flowers, September is the best time to see them.
It would be wonderful to visit a real cosmos field, but if you can’t, try making a cosmos wreath! Use green construction paper for the base of the wreath, and colorful origami paper for the cosmos flowers.
You can make the flowers by folding the origami into the specified shape, then cutting with scissors and adding small slits.
Choose your favorite colors and create a cosmos wreath that’s uniquely yours.
When you display it in your room, it will brighten the space and make it feel lively and festive!
3D acorns made from construction paper
It’s said that during the Jomon period, when people’s diets centered on hunting and gathering, chestnuts and acorns were eaten in large quantities.
As time passed and diets became more abundant, the relatively low-sweetness acorns fell out of favor.
I’ve heard there are still people who enjoy acorn tofu today, but it isn’t all that common, is it? How is it in your region? Making slightly larger, three-dimensional acorns out of paper could be quite striking.
Since they’re made by combining many thin strips of paper, it might be nice to split up the work and make them together.
Used as decorations, they’re a craft that will liven up any room!
Acorn craft with drawing paper and paints
Here are some ideas for making acorns with marble art.
First, line a container with construction paper and place marbles coated with paint on top.
If you want to use several colors, increase the number of marbles and coat each one with a different color of paint.
Tilt the container to roll the marbles and create patterns, then let it dry and cut the construction paper into the shape of an acorn cap.
Place it over the acorn nut you made from construction paper and glue it in place to finish.
If you draw faces on the acorns, they’ll look like characters and turn out even cuter.
Dragonfly craft
The sight of dragonflies darting about against the backdrop of a sunset is one of the quintessential scenes that evokes autumn, isn’t it? Let’s recreate that landscape of dragonflies silhouetted by the setting sun using origami.
The key is how to make the dragonfly: roll a strip of red origami paper into a slender tube for the body, then attach parts like the eyes and wings to give it a three-dimensional look.
Next, paste elements like the setting sun and plants such as pampas grass onto a backing sheet, and layer the dragonflies on top to complete the scene.
Choosing different colors for the dragonflies to create your own unique style is another fun aspect.
Bouquet of cosmos flowers
Many people are delighted to receive a bouquet, not just cosmos.
This time, we’re introducing a cosmos bouquet that’s fun to make and a joy to give.
Let’s fold several kinds of cosmos with origami and arrange them into a bouquet.
Choosing the colors of origami for the bouquet can be enjoyable too, don’t you think? Try making it in the favorite colors of the seniors you’re giving it to.
It’s also recommended as a bouquet gift for autumn birthdays or Respect-for-the-Aged Day.
How about adding a message card and presenting it as a gift?
[For Senior Facilities] Simple! September Craft Ideas to Feel Autumn (21–30)
Easy cosmos flowers made with paper
Let’s make a three-dimensional cosmos flower out of paper.
Cut a strip of paper lengthwise, fold it in the center, and attach both ends together to form a cosmos petal.
If you look closely, the petal even looks like a heart, adding extra cuteness.
Glue the petals together to create a cosmos flower, and you’ll have a dimensional piece.
Add the paper-made stamens to finish.
When displayed on the wall, it gives the room a bright, festive feel.
Being in a room with an impressive cosmos craft might lift the spirits of older adults, too.
It’s a simple method, so give it a try!