Simple Crafts for the Elderly Recommended for Tanabata
July 7 is Tanabata.
When you think of Tanabata, many people picture Princess Orihime, Prince Hikoboshi, and the Milky Way.
For older adults, hands-on crafts that let them experience seasonal events provide great stimulation for the brain.
In this article, we introduce easy craft ideas recommended for Tanabata.
We’ve gathered a wide range of Tanabata-themed craft ideas, including decorations, garlands, wall art, and tanzaku wish strips.
They’re all simple to make, so older adults can try them with ease.
Be sure to read this article and use it to help with your Tanabata crafting!
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[For Seniors] Easy Crafts Recommended for Tanabata (21–30)
Adult tanzaku decorations
This is a recommended craft for older adults that lets you enjoy the spirit of Tanabata while using your fingertips.
Cut origami paper into bamboo leaf shapes and paste them in a balanced way onto a circular piece of construction paper.
Adjust and place mizuhiki cords so they fit within the paper to create a traditional Japanese atmosphere.
Combine patterned origami with white paper to make tanzaku strips, write wishes on them, then thread them onto chenille stems to bring the whole piece together.
The finished work has a calm color palette that looks beautiful on display, and the textures of washi and mizuhiki give it an elegant feel.
It can also spark conversations about memories of Tanabata from the past, making it perfect for indoor summer recreation.
Ornamental display of Orihime and Hikoboshi
These Orihime and Hikoboshi tabletop decorations are perfect for Tanabata and are a gentle, enjoyable seasonal craft for seniors as well.
Fold a toilet paper roll in half, then cut two rings about 3 cm wide.
Place a core made by rolling up a tissue inside each ring and secure it with a rubber band to create a plump body.
Decorate over that as if dressing them in kimono using origami paper or lace to bring out the feel of Orihime and Hikoboshi.
Finish by making facial features from origami or similar paper and attaching them.
Simply lining them up on a desk or shelf adds a touch of seasonal color.
As you move your fingers through the steps, memories and Tanabata stories naturally come up, making it a craft that fosters enjoyable times.
Watermelon Tanabata decorations
Let’s make a watermelon decoration that you can also use to adorn a Tanabata bamboo branch.
Combine a piece of red origami cut in half with a strip of green origami cut lengthwise, and draw several small black circles on the red part to look like watermelon seeds.
Then accordion-fold the paper and thread a string through it to finish.
You can also use yellow origami to make a yellow watermelon! Another idea is to make several accordion-folded strips using only green origami and combine them to create a decoration that looks like a whole, uncut watermelon.
Make it in any style you like and brighten up your Tanabata bamboo with festive decorations!
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[For Seniors] Easy Crafts Recommended for Tanabata (31–40)
Tanabata decorations made with straws
For those who are unsure where to put a bamboo decoration, we recommend a straw-made bamboo display that can sit on a table.
Use a small paper cup as the base and insert green straws so they form a bamboo-grass shape.
Like grafting plants, attach small, finely cut pieces of straw here and there between the main straws, and it will start to resemble bamboo leaves.
Once the bamboo grass is done, use other straws to make decorations like tanzaku strips and combine them.
Since there are many small, detailed steps, it might be best for care facility staff to prepare the parts in advance and have older adults assemble the pieces.
Tanabata mobile
Let’s try making a cute, gently swaying Tanabata mobile! Using origami or construction paper, create various shapes like stars and circles, then string them vertically with thread to complete the mobile.
You can fold decorations like origami, or combine identical cutouts to make three-dimensional ornaments.
It’s also recommended to mix in felt balls or drawings made on shrink plastic.
Have each older adult make one strand and combine everyone’s to display on the wall, or have each person make about three strands and display each set as an individual piece—use these ideas to create festive Tanabata decorations.
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Strip with mesh
Tanabata is one of the major events in July.
Many senior care facilities probably hold Tanabata events and decorate their interiors, don’t they? Tanabata is also a day when people attach wish strips (tanzaku) to bamboo and make wishes.
Try adding a twist to those tanzaku by cutting slits that create a mesh pattern.
There’s originally a net decoration among Tanabata ornaments, and—as the name suggests—it’s said to carry the wish for a bountiful catch of fish.
Fold the top of the tanzaku paper, then make many cuts.
When you open it, you’ll have net-like slits.
If you like, you can also make Hikoboshi and Orihime and place them along the mesh of the tanzaku.
As they create, some older adults may recall past Tanabata memories.
Swaying bamboo decorations of Orihime and Hikoboshi
Speaking of Tanabata, it’s all about making wishes.
In shopping arcades and large malls, you’ll often find strips of paper that shoppers can freely hang up and write their wishes on.
It’s fun just to read other people’s wishes, like “I want to live a long life” or “I want to be rich.” The stars of Tanabata are Hikoboshi and Orihime.
Let’s make a gently swaying decoration using a polystyrene cup and pipe cleaners.
Basically, you just connect the Hikoboshi and Orihime figures made from colored paper to the cup with pipe cleaners.
Feel free to enjoy the rest of the decorations however you like.
Tanabata Decorations – Double Heart
Let’s make a heart-shaped decoration that looks like a Tanabata casting net! Prepare several strips of origami paper cut into long, thin pieces in a few different colors.
Use each strip to form a heart shape, then link the hearts together so they connect like a net.
A stapler is handy for attaching one heart to the next.
Rather than using a single color, combining about two colors is recommended.
Linking around six hearts is enough.
Try hanging it as a wall decoration or as one of the ornaments on bamboo for Tanabata!
Tanabata wall hanging decoration
This is a seasonal craft rich with Tanabata motifs that includes a variety of processes such as cutting, sewing, and gluing felt.
In particular, making and arranging small decorations requires fine finger movements and concentration, so it can help develop focus and provide hand and finger training while having fun.
Because many steps involve using needles and scissors, make the room bright so your hands are clearly visible, and proceed with support from those around you as needed.
If fine work is difficult, you can reduce the burden by making the decorations larger.
This project also helps encourage interaction, such as by sharing memories of Tanabata from the past while creating the piece.
