[For Seniors] Making a January Calendar: Fun Craft Ideas Using Milk Cartons and Origami

Origami Calendar: Kagami Mochi

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Kagami Mochi Origami / Origami Kagami-mochi

Kagamimochi, which is offered at New Year as a sacred stand-in for the Toshigami deity.

Believe it or not, you can make it easily with origami! It also works as a January calendar design, so give it a try and enjoy the New Year atmosphere.

In this idea, you’ll use three sheets of origami paper to create the parts—“mochi,” “sanpō” (the offering stand), and “mikan”—and then assemble them into a kagamimochi.

The steps are simple, featuring basic folds like valley-pleat (dan-ori) and cushion fold (zabuton-ori), making it suitable for everyone from children to seniors.

Origami Calendar: Shishimai (Lion Dance)

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Lion Dance Origami / Winter Origami – Origami Lion Dance

Let’s try making a shishimai (lion dance lion) using three sheets of origami paper in red, green, and gold.

Use red for the head, green for the body, and gold for the lion’s mouth.

The process features classic folding techniques like the roll fold and the zabuton (cushion) fold.

The head is the most difficult part, but if you make firm creases, it will come out neatly—so give it a try.

The body is easy: do a zabuton fold, then fold it in half into a triangle, tuck in the corners, and shape it.

Once you’ve drawn the face and patterns with a pen, glue it onto a backing sheet to complete your calendar.

Origami Calendar Maneki-neko

[Made with a single sheet of origami] Easy and cute Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) folding instructions ◇Origami beckoning cat, cat, animal, good-luck charm, decoration◇

How about incorporating the maneki-neko, a classic good-luck charm, into your calendar design? In this idea, you’ll use two rectangular sheets of origami paper cut in half to make the cat’s head and body.

Once you’ve made the head and body, glue them together, then use a pen to add the body’s patterns and the facial expression to finish.

It’s said that a maneki-neko raises its right paw to invite wealth and its left paw to invite people, so make yours with whichever paw you prefer.

It’s also recommended to design it together with other New Year’s motifs like kadomatsu or plum blossoms.

Origami Calendar: Kadomatsu

How to make an origami kadomatsu – Origami Kadomatsu instructions

During the New Year season, kadomatsu decorations are often displayed at the main entrances of large buildings.

Some of you may remember having them at your own homes’ gates when you were little.

Kadomatsu is a perfect motif for a January calendar.

This origami idea not only shows how to fold a kadomatsu, but also includes instructions for a festive fan and plum blossoms.

Why not try making them and using them as the main design for your calendar? Since combining all the parts adds thickness, be sure to adhere them firmly when using them in your design.

Origami Calendar January

[Komu-chan] Origami Calendar ♪ January

While enjoying origami, why not try making a January calendar? You’ll create three items: ornamental cabbage, a celebratory crane, and a New Year’s pine decoration (kadomatsu).

You’ll make several ornamental cabbages and cranes in different sizes.

Once everything is finished, arrange them on a backing sheet in any balance you like.

Attach the calendar section in the blank space, and you’re done.

There are many other origami projects you can make, so look for various New Year–themed ideas.

For the calendar portion, using free downloadable materials makes it easy.

Origami Calendar: First Sunrise of the Year

[New Year Origami] How to fold the first sunrise (Mt. Fuji, sun, clouds) with audio commentary ☆ Origami Mt. Fuji, sun, clouds tutorial / Tatsukuri

Let me show you a New Year’s first sunrise scene expressed with origami.

You’ll make three parts: Mount Fuji, the sun, and clouds.

For Mount Fuji, fold the origami into a triangle to make a crease, open it, then make a step fold on the top corner to represent snow.

Fold the remaining edges and corners inward to shape it like Mount Fuji.

For the sun, start with a cushion fold (zabutons), then fold the corners into triangles to round it off.

For the clouds, fold into a triangle to make a crease, then fold the two left edges in along the crease, fold the left corner into a triangle, and form an isosceles triangle.

From there, offset the fold slightly from the crease and fold in half, then fold the corners twice to refine the cloud shape.

If you make them with origami sized to fit your backing paper, you can also use the design for a calendar.

Auspicious Sea Bream New Year Calendar

Why not try depicting a celebratory sea bream using construction paper and Japanese-patterned origami? Every time you look at the calendar, it will lift your spirits.

First, cut the parts out of construction paper.

You’ll need the bream’s body, scales, Mount Fuji, the sun, and wave pieces.

Make the scales by cutting the Japanese-patterned origami into circles.

Once all the parts are cut out, design them freely in the blank space of the mounting board where the calendar is attached.

For an even livelier look, draw the fin patterns and the eye with a pen.