During the long winter months, when you spend so much of your time cooped up inside, it’s common to feel a little restless and bored. Why not inject a little creativity into your days? Even if you’re not naturally artistic and you’ve never been handy with craft supplies, you can enjoy some fun quality time with friends. Use our list of winter crafts for seniors to get started.
Winter Crafts for Seniors
Paper Snowflakes
Whether you’re anticipating the next blizzard with glee or dreading trudging through the snow, you can’t deny the timeless beauty of paper snowflakes. Plus, they’re affordable, easy to make, and you only need two things to get started: paper and scissors! Check out this Martha Stewart tutorial to get started, but know that the best way to improve your skills is to experiment with your cutting patterns. When you’re finished, consider hanging the snowflakes on a window or wall.
Embroidery Hoop Wreaths
If you want to add a little cheer and color to this bleak season, consider making a wreath using an embroidery hoop. This tutorial by Crafts by Amanda will give you a good place to get started, but the project is extremely versatile. Simply head to the craft store and pick up the following supplies: an embroidery hoop, faux greenery, scissors, twine, and ribbon. You could also use wire to more firmly attach the greenery. There are so many design options: the type of greenery, the style of ribbon, the size of hoop, whether you wish to cover the whole hoop or only a portion, etc. Hang the finished wreath on your door to welcome visitors into your home.
Winter Luminaries
Despite their fancy name, luminaries are simply light sources (typically candles) in paper bags or glass jars. In this case (a tutorial by Crafts for Amanda), they come in the form of candles nestled into faux-snow-covered mason jars. They make great centerpieces, and they can also be used on your mantle, on a windowsill, or even lining the walkway to your front door. To get started, you’ll need a glass jar (instead of buying a new jar, consider reusing a pasta sauce jar or pickle jar), 2 pinecones, lace, twine, a hot glue gun, Snow-Tex, epsom salt, and a candle.
Bird Seed Wreaths
Do you love spotting new birds in your yard? If you want feathered friends to flock to your house, try creating a seed wreath. Not only is it pretty and colorful, but also this wreath will be a tasty treat for the birds in your neighborhood. Check out this tutorial from Good Housekeeping to get started. You may be able to use up some excess ingredients in your pantry, such as gelatin, corn syrup, flour, and fresh or frozen cranberries.
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If you get through our favorite winter crafts for seniors before spring arrives, look online for more ideas. You could create greeting cards to send to friends, learn to knit or crochet, or perhaps even try your hand at origami. With so many possibilities, there’s no reason why your hands should go idle all winter long.
Good luck and stay warm!
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.