7 Holiday Crafts for Seniors

Trying to keep your aging loved one happy and engaged this Christmas or Hanukkah? Crafting is a great way to help seniors feel included during the holidays, since they can share their masterpieces with others or use them to decorate for a family gathering.

We’ve put together a list of adorable (and affordable) holiday crafts that take an hour or less to make. Many of these were created with children in mind, so your loved one can even work on these with the grandkids. And even if your parent or grandparent now struggles with their cognitive or motor skills, they can still complete these fun projects safely with a little help.

Read on for seven holiday crafts for seniors, and get ready for Christmas or Hanukkah fun with your loved one!

*Just a note: If you craft or gather with family and friends for the 2020 holidays, make sure to quarantine before and after spending time with them to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Small gatherings are best, provided that your loved ones are healthy and willing to spend extended time together indoors.

1. Dollar Store Snowman

Craft and photo courtesy of All Free Holiday Crafts and Alyssabeth’s Vintage.

Materials

• 2 packages Styrofoam balls
• Cotton balls
• Silver glitter
• Hot glue gun
• Spray adhesive (optional)
• Small Styrofoam coffee cup
• Black card stock
• Red or green ribbon
• Green and orange felt
• Red beads
• Black buttons
• Red floral wire
• Plastic candy cane 

Instructions

1. Take three Styrofoam balls, then cut the bottom of the largest flat on one side.
2. Cut the medium-sized ball flat on two sides, then glue all three balls together.
3. Once your snowman stack is dry, unroll cotton balls and glue over the stack.
4. Mix two parts white glue and one part water. Paint over the cotton ball-covered stack, then add glitter (to look like sparkling snow). 
5. Spray with adhesive if you have some on hand. Let dry.
6. Use the coffee cup as a base for your snowman’s top hat. Remove the bottom of the cup, then cut down the height of the cup.
7. Cover the cup with black card stock, then cut out the rim and top of the hat. 
8. Glue the hat together, then trim with ribbon. Make holly leaves with green felt and berries with red beads to decorate the hat.
9. Add a ribbon scarf; buttons for the snowman’s smile, eyes, and stomach; and wire for his arms. 
10. Finish your snowman with an orange felt carrot nose.
11. Display your snowman wherever you (and your guests) can admire him!

2. Burlap & Gingham Wreath

Photo and craft courtesy of Country Charm by Tracy.

Materials

• 12-inch wire wreath frame
• Brown burlap
• Red burlap
• 10 yards red and white gingham (or checked) ribbon
• Chenille stems
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Loop brown burlap around the wreath frame, securing loops with chenille stems.
2. Repeat Step 1 with the red burlap, layering it over the brown burlap.
3. Cut strips of gingham ribbon and tie in between the burlap sections.
4. Tie a small bow at the bottom if you have room. 
5. Cut off excess ribbon and/or burlap, or tuck it into the wreath.
6. Hang on your front door!

3. Waterless Snow Globes

Photo and craft courtesy of Tidy Mom.

Materials

• Glass jar(s)
• Artificial snow (or cornstarch/baking soda)
• Hot glue gun
• Mini snowmen and mini pine trees
• Spray adhesive (optional)
• Glitter (optional)
• Silver glitter (or white) spray paint

Instructions

1. Remove the lid from a jar, then paint the lid with silver glitter or white spray paint.
2. Spray the mini trees and snowmen with glitter or white paint so they sparkle.
3. Hot glue your trees and snowmen to the lids. Let dry.
4. Add artificial snow, cornstarch, or baking soda to the jars. You only need enough to cover the bottom of the jar.
5. Make sure your trees and snowmen are glued tightly to the lid, then put the lid back onto the jar.
6. Turn over the jar, and let it snow!

4. Colorful Tape Menorahs

Photo and craft courtesy of Artsy Craftsy Mom.

Materials

• Washi, duct, and/or blue painter’s tape
• White and yellow construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue 

Instructions

1. Cut a small piece of blue tape for the shamash candle’s base, then cut a long piece that all nine candles will rest on. Attach these to the middle of the white construction paper.
2. Repeat Step 1 to cut and attach two more small pieces of blue tape (for the bottom of the menorah).
3. Cut nine equal-length strips of tape for your menorah candles.
4. Add four tape “candles” to the left of the shamash base and four to the right.
5. Place your ninth piece of tape on base for the shamash candle.
6. Cut out nine flames from the yellow construction paper.
7. Glue one flame above each candle.
8. Display your menorah for the whole Hanukkah celebration!

5. Watercolor Dreidels

Photo and craft courtesy of Creative Jewish Mom.

Materials

• Cardboard with a matte (non-glossy) finish
• Utility or hobby knife
• Watercolors and brushes
• Jar or plastic container to hold water

Instructions

1. Cut out a dreidel shape from the cardboard, then trace that one to cut out more if you’d like.
2. Next, it’s time to paint your dreidel. Need ideas? Try adding blue and white stripes, a Star of David, or yellow and orange to symbolize candle flames.
3. Let your watercolor dreidel(s) dry, then display them however you’d like.

6. Popup Christmas Tree Cards

Photo and craft courtesy of Style at Home.

Materials

• 7½” x 10″ white card stock (folded in half)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• 8½” x 11″ blue card stock (folded in half)
• Silver glitter stickers
• Silver glitter glue

Instructions

1. Using the fold of the white card stock as the tree’s center, draw half of a triangle (2 inches wide). Start just below the top of the card stock and end about an inch from the bottom.
2. Divide the triangle into four horizontal sections with wavy lines. Cut along each line.
3. Open the white card stock and flip the tree inside out, reinforcing the fold along the edges so the four sections point outwards (and so you can hide your pencil mark).
4. Glue the white card stock onto the blue card stock. 
5. Decorate the tree with stickers and glitter glue. Let dry before closing the card.
6. Send your beautiful card to a friend or family member. 

7. Christmas Gumball Machines

Photo and craft courtesy of Senior Advisor and See Jane Blog.

Materials

• Red acrylic or spray paint
• Flowerpot
• Small saucer
• Small wooden ball
• Small glass fish bowl
• Hot glue gun
• Red and white ribbon
• Snowflake stickers
• Your favorite Christmas candy

Instructions

1. Paint your flowerpot, saucer, and wooden ball red. Let dry.
2. Use a hot glue gun to attach the ball to the bottom of the saucer. (This will form your gumball machine’s “lid.”)
3. Glue the bottom of the fish bowl to the bottom of the flowerpot. (The pot will sit upside down as a base for the bowl.)
4. Decorate the flowerpot base with ribbons, snowflake stickers and more.
5. Fill the bowl with peppermints, gumdrops, or another type of candy.
6. Place the ball-saucer lid on top of the bowl.
7. Share your candy with your family and friends.

Whether your loved one can safely complete these projects on their own (or with the grandkids), or they need a helping hand, we hope they enjoy these fun holiday crafts for seniors! 

Safe-T Home Care is an in-home care agency in Monticello, Indiana. We provide transportation, financial planning, and other services so your loved ones can stay safe and independent at home. For more information, visit our website or like us on Facebook.