Now that it’s officially summer and you’re probably spending more time indoors to escape the heat of the midday sun, it’s a perfect time to start some craft projects. You don’t need to be an artsy person to create beautiful things with your hands; you just need the right tools and instructions. If you’re struggling to find the right idea, check out our three summer crafts for seniors below. They’re simple, versatile, and very satisfying to create by hand.
Three Summer Crafts for Seniors
Melodious Wind Chime
Who doesn’t enjoy hearing the summer breeze make music with a wind chime? To construct your wind chime, look for a sturdy stick outside or purchase a quilting hoop at a craft store. Then, cut lengths of heavy-duty thread, fishing line, twine, chains, or cording – whether the lengths are even or varied is up to you. Finally, attach lovely, noise-making objects to the thread (or string them onto it). Here are some options: beads, seashells, washers, spoons and forks, old keys, and pressed pennies. When you’re finished, tie the lengths of thread onto the stick/hoop. Then, hang the wind chime from a tree outside.
Fairy Garden for Children
If you know any children still young enough to believe in magic, you could use your imagination to create a lovely little fairy garden for them. There are many ideas for this online – try searching on Pinterest if you need ideas. Here are some possibilities:
- Fairy House: Cut a plastic water bottle in half, flip the bottom upside down (recycle the top), and cover it in pebbles. Finish with a little door to create a fairy house.
- Fairy Bridge: Take a curved piece of plastic (from a food container perhaps) and cover it in popsicle sticks to create a wooden bridge.
- Fairy Door: Create a little (inoperable) door from wood and position it on a tree, giving the impression that the door opens into the tree. You could also paint a stone with a little door.
Pineapple Pinecones
This adorable idea is also incredibly quick. Click here to see an example and get the low-down. All you’ll need are some pinecones, yellow acrylic paint, a paint brush (or sponge), green construction paper, and tape or glue. Simply clean the pinecones, paint their tips yellow, cut the construction paper into grass-like shapes, curl the edges of the grass tips (using a pen or straw), curl up the sections of paper, and tape/glue them into the pinecones. Voila – pineapples! When you’re finished, you can use the pineapple pinecones as seasonal decor or form them into a centerpiece.
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What are your favorite summer crafts for seniors? The next time you’re bored on a sunny afternoon, grab some friends and your craft supplies and get to work.
At Springhouse Village, we know how important it is to enjoy your retirement in a lively and welcoming environment. We make it easy for our residents to be active participants in our community. Whether that means encouraging residents to shop at local farmers markets or assisting them in starting a garden club, we strive to help our residents thrive. To learn more about the amenities and services we offer, contact Springhouse Village today.