50 Easy, Fun Crafts for Older Adults and Seniors

Easy Crafts

Greeting cards Looking for a craft that lets you spread creativity and joy? Make paper greeting cards. Simply gather white paper, markers or colored pencils, glue sticks and glitter, stickers, stamps, and stencils. Fold the paper in half to make a card and decorate as you’d like. Send your greeting cards to relatives or grandkids during holidays and special occasions. They’re sure to treasure the craft. You can also send greeting cards to troops through organizations like the Holidays Cards for our Military Challenge. Make cards to cheer up children in the hospital. Look online to see if your hospital or branches near you have a card-sending program.

Decorated bookmarks This craft is perfect if you’re a bookworm or want to make a simple gift for a reader in your life. Start with white or colorful construction paper and scissors. Cut the paper into rectangles that are 2 inches (5.1 cm) x 6 inches (15 cm). Draw on your bookmarks with markers, pencils, or crayons. You can depict scenes from books you’ve read, or write your favorite quote.

Adult coloring books Coloring isn’t just for kids. Purchase an adult coloring book and use colored pencils to fill its pages with eye-catching designs. Or, print free coloring pages online. While not the same as mindfulness art therapy, researchers believe adult coloring could yield similar mental health benefits such as decreasing anxiety and stress.

Flower pot painting Buy cheap, small terracotta pots and small paint sets and paint brushes at a dollar store. Place the pots and supplies on newspapers to prevent spills. Finally, set out a cup of water to dip brushes in between colors. Paint the pots with flowers, vines, and other designs. Place them upside-down outside to dry in the sun. You can add soil and seeds to use the pot in a garden, or fill it with marbles for a unique decoration.

Coaster painting Who couldn’t use more coasters to keep cold drinks from leaving rings? You can buy cheap cork or wood coasters online. Find paint and brushes at a dollar or craft store. Paint whatever you’d like on the coaster—an inspirational quote, a cute animal, or a grandkid’s name to make it a gift.

Plastic lid ladybugs Upcycle plastic lids from bottles or milk jugs into adorable insects. Start by washing and drying your plastic lids. Use a paintbrush and black acrylic craft paint to fill in an almond shape on one side of the lid. Paint spots on the rest of the lid. Let it dry before using craft glue to add googly eyes in the almond shape. Make your spots different sizes to mimic the look of a real ladybug’s wings. Place these cute recycled critters on windowsills or near a garden.

Paper punch-out lanterns All you need are a colorful sheet of paper, mini paper punches, and LED tea light to make this glowing craft. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. Cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide slits along the crease of the paper (stopping each slit 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the edge). Use your paper punch to add patterns along the fringe. Unfold the paper and bring the long ends together, stapling them. Finally, place an LED tea light inside to complete your paper lantern.

Themed glass magnets Use a circle punch to cut out scrapbook paper circles. Apply Mod Podge to the flat side of small glass flat-back marbles (or cabochons) with a foam brush. Place your scrapbook paper circles on so the design touches the flat side. Add Mod Podge to the backs of the paper circles. Let them dry for 20 minutes. Use a strong glue to add small, circular magnets to the backs of the paper circles. After three hours, your artsy magnets will be dry and ready for your fridge.

Scrapbook and Memory Crafts

Photo frame decorating Buy cheap pre-assembled wooden picture frames and put photos of loved ones, pets, or travels inside. Decorate the frames with foam stickers, beads, glitter, and even paint. Let the décor dry before placing your custom frame on display.

Scrapbooks With scrapbook paper, a scrapbook, scissors, and glue sticks, you can while away hours creating ornate pages. Add photos to your scrapbook to preserve memories of fun times with your spouse, kids, or grandkids. Create themed pages around seasons, holidays, and life milestones.

Photo collage boards Highlight your favorite memories on a rustic photo collage board. Start with a small, cheap wood panel or block from a craft store. You’ll need craft glue like Mod Podge, a sponge brush, and small cut-out photographs to go on your board. Brush Mod Podge across the wood board, covering it completely. Place your photos on top to create your collage—overlap is okay! Brush another coat of Mod Podge over the pictures and the exposed areas of the wood board. Set it up on a tabletop or kitchen counter to reflect on your memories whenever you pass by.

Family recipe cookbook Don’t let your family’s recipes and traditions be forgotten. Gather recipes from relatives and write them down on paper (or type them in a Word document and print them, if you prefer). Add family anecdotes and photos of food and cooking memories throughout. Hole-punch the recipes so they’ll fit in a three-ring binder.

Mini mint tin time capsules Crafts with Altoid or other small tins have become all the rage. Get in on the fun with empty tins, spray paint, 2 inches (5.1 cm) x 3 inches (7.6 cm) photos, other small mementos, and foam number stickers. Make a new time capsule each year so you can look back on them over time. Outside or in a well-ventilated area, spray paint the tin to cover it completely. Let dry. Add number stickers on the outside of the tin representing the year you’re making the capsule. Fill your mini time capsule with pictures from the year, as well as small mementos like movie tickets, stickers, shells, stamps, and other trinkets. You can also write on small scraps of paper: notes for the future, slang from the year, and the names of new friends or grandkids.

DIY memory box For a bigger, artsier time capsule, you’ll need a few more supplies. Gather up precut paper squares, small printed photos, twine, tape, a glue stick, and a trinket box. Assembling this memory box should take just 30 minutes. Use your glue stick to attach your printed photos to your paper squares. (Use scrapbooking paper for fun designs and patterns.) Lay your paper squares end to end and measure a length of twine twice the length of the row of squares. Make a 2 inches (5.1 cm) loop at the end of the twine. Tape the twine to the backs of the squares, leaving them in a row with 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) inch space between each one. Keep the loop above the top paper square. Use your glue stick to attach more paper squares to the back to hide the twine. Finally, fold the squares up like an accordion, with the loop at the top. When you pull the loop, you can unfold your memories and view all the pictures in a row. Store in a trinket box.

A memory quilt If you’re into quilting, a memory quilt is a fun way to preserve memories of yourself and the people you love. It’s made by quilting together squares from old T-shirts, baby blankets, ties, and any other meaningful scraps of fabric. When you’re done, you’ll have a warm blanket that represents the times and styles of you and your family’s lives.

Sewing, Knitting, and Crochet Crafts

Fabric book covers If you know how to sew, create chic fabric book covers to protect books from spills (and make a bookshelf aesthetically pleasing). You’ll need three fat quarters of fabric, fusible fleece, fusible featherweight interfacing, and matching thread. Follow wikiHow’s tutorial here. Don’t want to cover up books? Create fabric covers for notebooks and journals instead.

Rice heating pad When it’s cold or your muscles are sore, a heating pad is a welcome relief. Make your own using a clean pillowcase, 100% cotton thread, eight to 10 cups of dry, uncooked rice, and a sewing machine. Start by turning the pillowcase inside-out and marking a line 12 inches (30 cm) from the bottom closed end. Cut along the line to get a 12 inches (30 cm) x 20 inches (51 cm) rectangle. Hem the cut top edges with your sewing machine. Sew three evenly spaced lines down the case (when it’s right-side-out) to hold the rice. Fill the pockets with about 2 ¼ cups of rice each. Pin the top closed and sew it closed. You now have a beautiful rice heating pad. Microwave the rice for 2.5 minutes, staying near the microwave in case the rice burns. Every microwave has a different intensity, but 4 minutes should be the maximum (and less time is probably fine).

Crochet flower coaster Create a floral gift (or a craft you can use at home) while working on your dexterity as you crochet a cute coaster. There are several free patterns online to follow when making your coaster. Most require two skeins of 100% cotton yarn (120 yards (110 m), 2.5 ounces (71 g)) in 2 colors, a 5 mm crochet hook, and a yarn needle.

No-sew fleece pillow If you don’t know how to knit, sew, or crochet, you can always weave. That’s the only procedure you need to be able to do to create a no-sew fleece pillow. As for materials, gather a pillow form, 1 yard (0.91 m) of fleece, fabric scissors, a ruler, a tape measure, and a fabric-safe chalk or marker.

Knitted scarf A scarf is a good beginner knitting project, making it perfect for elderly adults and seniors who are new to knitting. The starter project works because it “allows you to learn the different stitch square rectangles,” says knitting expert Blythe Nudelman. Find a tutorial here.

Knit mug cozy Put your knitting skills to the test to craft a cute knit mug cozy. The cozy wraps around a mug to protect your hands when drinking a hot beverage (like a sweater for your mug). If a cable knit pattern is too difficult, consider making a regular knit rectangle to form your cozy.

Crochet blanket Crocheting blankets is the perfect cold-weather craft. Since you’re essentially crocheting a big square, you don’t need to have expert-level skills (but you will need a lot of yarn). Give it as a Christmas present or keep it for yourself. Crochet expert Erin Toews suggests this project for beginners because “it's not necessarily going to look like you've been crocheting for 25 years, but by the end of the blanket, your stitches will be very consistent” because of all the practice you just did.

Home Décor Crafts

Tissue paper flower centerpieces Tissue paper flowers are a darling addition to any table. Start by stacking 12 layers of tissue paper together and folding them accordion style. Cut small notches on the center of each side and round the edges. Twist pipe cleaner around the notched area. Finally, fluff the tissue paper outward to create your flowers. You can use one color of tissue paper or layer different colors for a multicolored flower.

Decoupage candles Put paper napkins to use as designs on a plain flameless candle. You can find flameless candles online or at the dollar store—the same goes for the napkins. You’ll also need Mod Podge gloss, a foam brush, and scissors. Brush your Mod Podge onto the candle with the foam brush. Then, wrap one ply of the napkin around the candle, smoothing. Apply another layer of Mod Podge around the napkin. Let it dry and trim any excess. Your decoupage candle is complete!

Pine cone succulents Like succulents but don’t want to care for them? With cheap pine cones (or free ones from your yard) and some green paint, you can create DIY succulents. Store-bought pine cones will already be prepared to paint, while you may have to rinse and dry ones from outside. Simply use a fine tip paint brush and acrylic craft paints in green, blue, coral, or purple to paint your pine cones. Let them dry completely. Arrange in a glass vase or place them in a bowl to use as a table centerpiece.

Painted mason jar vases Upcycle your old mason jars into pretty vases. Wash and dry the mason jars. Apply three to four coats of pastel chalk paint with a paintbrush, letting the jars dry overnight between each coat. For a rustic look, use sandpaper to scratch the paint and expose some of the jar. Fill with real or artificial flowers.

Tissue paper pom-poms There’s nothing like doing a craft that doubles as a party decoration. All you need are sheets of tissue paper, 24-gauge cloth-covered floral wire, and scissors. The result can be hung in a corner or over a table as a dramatic decoration. To start, stack eight 20 by 30 inches (51 by 76 cm) sheets of tissue paper. Fold the paper in accordion folds, 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. Bind the center of the folded paper with an 18 inches (46 cm) piece of floral wire. Trim the edges of the folded paper with scissors to round. Gently separate the layers from one another so the pom-pom takes shape. Tie more floral wire to the central binding to hang.

Decorated wood letters You can purchase cheap wooden letters online or at a craft store. Pick letters to spell a happy word like “peace” or “joy,” or decorate the letters in the name of your child or grandchild and give them your craft as a gift. Arts & crafts expert Claire Donovan-Blackwood says, “The possibilities are pretty endless when it comes to wooden letters.” She suggests decorating with paper flowers and leaves, washi tape, sequins, beads, paint, or decoupage.

Washi tape erase boards With a small, cheap standing picture frame (with a clear plastic insert), washi tape, a sheet of cardstock, and scissors, you can make a pretty dry erase board for your bedroom or kitchen counter. Use it to write reminders, notes to family, or simply draw cute pictures. Start by separating the frame. Measure and cut your cardstock to the same size as the plastic insert to fit the frame. Then, add strips of washi tape. Use multiple colors of tape to make a striped pattern. Place it in the frame behind the insert. Use dry-erase markers to draw on the plastic insert. Erase to simply admire your washi tape design.

Winter tree lanterns This simple craft takes just five minutes to put together. You can use them as a festive centerpiece or line them along an entryway table. While they look wintery, these tree lanterns are suitable for year-round display. First, take a piece of transparent, winter-patterned scrapbook paper. Roll a corner of the paper into a cone. Use tape to secure your cone and trim away the excess paper along the bottom so it can stand on its own. Place the cone over an LED tea light (don't use a real flame!) and watch your DIY lantern glow like a candle on a winter’s night.

Seasonal Crafts

Coffee filter snowflakes Enjoy a snow day by making beautiful snowflakes. First, fold a clean coffee filter into eights. Use a pencil to map out shapes. Take scissors and cut out your design. Finally, unfold the filter to reveal your intricate, delicate snowflake.

Paper plate snowmen Whether or not it’s snowing outside, you can build a snowman. You’ll need a regular and a small paper plate, googly eyes, bottle glue, scissors, markers, a stapler, and brown, black, and orange construction paper. That might seem like a lot, but assembly is rather easy. Start by cutting five circles from the black paper for the mouth, two rectangle arms from the brown paper, and one triangle nose from the orange paper. Glue the arms to the bigger plate and the mouth and nose to the smaller plate. Glue on googly eyes above the nose. Use markers to draw buttons on the bigger plate. Finally, staple the two plates together to assemble your snowman. Add a ribbon to cover the staple (and give your snowman a stylish scarf).

Popsicle stick Christmas trees Making a cute ornament has never been easier. Use green acrylic paint and a paintbrush to paint three wide popsicle sticks. Use craft glue to attach the sticks at the ends, forming a triangle. Glue a popsicle stick trunk. Decorate with beads, buttons, glitter, or noodles. Hot glue a 10 inches (25 cm) loop of string at the top of the tree so you can hang your ornament.

Popsicle stick menorahs and kinaras If you celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, use popsicle sticks to create a fire-free menorah or kinara. Use hot glue to assemble colorful popsicles sticks into a menorah or kinara, and cut flames from construction paper to glue on top. The menorah has nine candles, while the kinara has seven. Make sure you have enough popsicle sticks to use two or three for the candleholder’s base, too. On a kinara, the three left candles should be red, the middle candle should be black, and the three right candles should be green.

Dried citrus ornaments Make fragrant DIY ornaments for just a few dollars. Start by thinly slicing five oranges. Place the slices in a 200° F (93° C) oven for 2-4 hours, checking every hour for dryness. Let them cool on a flat surface. Use a hot glue gun to attach star anise to the centers of each slice. Finally, pierce a hole through the top of the slice with a toothpick and weave in a string. Dab your dried orange slice ornaments with natural orange or cinnamon oil for a festive scent.

Folded book Christmas trees Upcycle old, large-sized paperback books into stylish Christmas trees. It’s a great way to repurpose old books you don’t want to let go to waste while getting into the spirit of the season. Start by removing the covers from the book. Take the upper right corner of the top page of the book and fold it down until it touches the left edge (that is, the book's spine) to make a triangle. Fold the triangle’s right corner in so it lines up with the left edge. Repeat with the next page—and all the pages. Tuck the overhanging triangles of paper under the pages to give your paper tree a flat base. Fan out the pages in a circle. You can use hot glue to attach mini ornaments, gift bows, or beads as decorations on your tree.

Wax paper Valentine’s Day hearts While this craft looks cute all year round, it’s especially suited for Valentine’s Day. You’ll need wax paper, wax crayons, a handheld pencil sharpener, kraft paper, an iron, a pencil, scissors, and silk thread for this activity. Fold a 12 by 16 inches (30 by 41 cm) sheet of waxed paper in half and unfold. Use a handheld pencil sharpener to sharpen wax crayons, sprinkling the shavings evenly onto one half of the waxed paper. Fold the paper over the shavings and crimp the three open edges with 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) folds. Place the folded waxed paper between two sheets of kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat until all the shavings have melted (check as you go). Once cooled, trace and cut out hearts. Use a needle to loop your silk thread at the tops of the hearts to hang them. You can hang them from a ceiling or next to a window to let light filter through them.

Paper strip fall pumpkins Ring in fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving with this easy 3D craft. All you need is orange cardstock paper (8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm)), a hole punch, scissors, a ruler, a cheap paper fastener, and brown and green pipe cleaners (12 inches (30 cm) long, one of each) to make your paper strip pumpkin. Use the ruler to mark the paper every inch across the long end of the cardstock paper. Then, trace a vertical line every inch until you have 11 strips of paper. Use your hole punch to punch holes on both ends of the strips and gather them together. Put a paper fastener through one of the holes and close it. Spread out the paper strips like an asterisk symbol. Fold the brown pipe cleaner in half and bend it into an “L” shape. Hold it in the center of the paper strips and insert the pipe cleaner through the punched holes at the ends so they stand together like a pumpkin. Finally, bend it into a stem shape and close the loop. Attach the green pipe cleaner as a stem. Tug the orange strips so they’re separated into a pumpkin shape. Your pumpkin is complete!

Outdoor and Garden Crafts

Pinecone bird feeder One literature review cited using recorded bird songs to treat agitation in people with dementia by simulating a natural environment. Get the real thing by making a pine cone bird feeder craft that will attract winged friends to your yard. This craft uses peanut butter, so if you have nut allergies, you’ll want to skip it. Use a butter knife to apply peanut butter to a pine cone. Pour a cup of birdseed onto the pine cone over a bowl (or roll the pine cone in a bowl of birdseed). Loop or glue string to the top of the pine cone so you can hang your bird feeder from a tree outside.

Washer wind chimes Put old washers to use as part of a pretty, soothing wind chime. All you’ll need are washers of various sizes, scissors, acrylic paints, a paintbrush, craft wire (or string or twine), Mod Podge, and a branch or dowel to hang your wind chime on. Use your paint brush to paint the washers with a base color. Once dry, paint on designs and patterns. Use your scissors to cut different lengths of craft wire, string, or twine. Tie one end to the washer and the other to your wooden branch or dowel. Brush on Mod Podge to waterproof. Hang your chime from a tree with another length of your wire, string, or twine.

Tissue paper suncatchers In the summer months, a suncatcher is an easy craft that can add color to windows and filter light nicely. You’ll need a roll of wax paper, differently colored sheets of tissue paper, school glue, and a thick paintbrush to make them. Start by putting newspaper down to protect your work surface. Cut or tear your tissue paper into small square pieces. Water down ⅓ of the glue in the bottle with a small amount of water (about 0.25 cups (59 mL)) by pouring both in a bowl and whisking until runny. Use your paint brush to coat a sheet of wax paper with the watered-down glue. Apply the tissue paper scraps to the wax paper like a mosaic and brush another layer of glue. Let it dry and display on a windowsill.

Rock painting This craft lets you spruce up a garden or leave kind words for passersby in your yard. Simply take smooth, clean rocks and paint them with a brush and some all-purpose acrylic paint. Paint flowers, animals, shapes, or kind words. If you’re placing them in a public place (as you do with kindness rocks), Donovan-Blackwood advises using an oil-based paint and Sharpie marker pens to decorate your rock. That way, it won’t fade too fast.

Air-dry clay seed mosaic Get into a sculpting state of mind to make this earthy seed mosaic craft. Buy white air-dry clay at a craft store. Use a rolling pin to roll it out to 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick. Press cookie cutters into the clay to create shapes. Push dry beans and seeds into the clay to make a mosaic pattern. Let the clay dry inside for three to four days. To display your mosaic in your garden, take it outside and then spray it with an acrylic sealer to waterproof it.

Terrarium mini-garden Terrariums are cute tanks you can use to store growing succulents. To make one, you’ll need a clear glass container like a fish bowl or a pickle jar, marble-sized terrarium rocks, activated charcoal (which will filter your plant’s water), sterilized potting soil, and your mini plants. Layer your terrarium with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of rocks at the bottom, a 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) layer of the charcoal, and enough potting soil to fill it halfway. Plant your plants in the soil. Add your pebbles and other decorations like pine cones or rocks to finish off your mini garden. Succulents need air to grow—make sure the container is open, with no lid.

Egg carton nursery Want to bring bees to your yard and watch them pollinate? This outdoor craft will do the job. All you have to do is take an old paper egg carton and turn it into a flower nursery. Bee-friendly flowers include poppies, geraniums, and lavender. Start by poking three small holes in the bottom of each egg cup with a pencil. Fill the cups ¾ full with potting soil and place a few flower seeds in each. Cover the seeds with soil. Place the carton on a waterproof tray in a sunny spot of your house. Spray a little water on the carton every other day to keep the soil moist. After the seeds sprout and have leaves (around four to five weeks) you can take them outside. Plant paper egg cartons directly in the ground—they’ll biodegrade. Transfer your plants to the ground if you used a styrofoam container. Watch as bees come to your flowers and pollinate.

Advanced Crafts

Origami star box Practice the traditional Japanese art of origami to make an ornate box in the shape of a 4-pointed star. The box resembles a flower—so you can use acrylic paint to decorate it like a blossom. Find our tutorial here.

Heart string art Wondering what to do with your extra nails? Take a small piece of wood and hammer them into a heart shape. Then, weave string around the nails to create a darling yarn heart. Once you’ve hammered the nails in place, tie a knot at the end of the yarn around one nail (the top or bottom central nail). Pull the yarn to the opposite nail and wrap it around once, pulling it taut. Bring the yarn to the nail that’s on the left of the original nail. Wrap and string it in the opposite direction to a nail that’s on the right of the second nail. You’ll create a crisscross pattern as you wrap the yarn around all the nails. At the end, tie the yarn around your final nail. Trim the excess. Display it on a bookshelf or nightstand.

Rose petal bath salts Create a lovely floral gift or a craft you can use for your own self-care ritual. You’ll need 1.5 cups (350 mL) of organic rose petals, 1 cup (240 mL) of Epsom salt, 1 tablespoon (about 14 g) of baking soda, 1.5 cups (350 mL) cups of Himalayan sea salt, a glass jar, a mixing bowl, a spoon, rose essential oils, and a blender. Begin by drying out one to two cups of organic rose petals in your microwave. Layer them on a microwave-safe plate between layers of paper towels. Microwave for 30-40 seconds and check them. Continue in 15-second intervals until the petals are fully dry. Mix the epsom salt, baking soda, and himalayan sea salt in your mixing bowl. Add 4-8 drops of rose essential oils. Blend your rose petals in your blender until they look like confetti. Add them to your salt mixture and use your spoon to mix. Finally, pour them in a glass jar and seal. To use, simply add 2 oz from the jar to your bath.

Bird house building If you have woodworking skills, consider making a classic birdhouse for your yard. wikiHow’s tutorial requires just one board of untreated wood. If you don’t have woodworking experience, consider buying a premade birdhouse that you can paint instead.

Denim feathers Upcycle old jeans or denim scraps into bohemian feathers. For this advanced craft, you’ll need denim scraps (including some without seams), scissors, twine, fabric Mod Podge, wooden beads (10 millimetres (0.39 in), with a 5 millimetres (0.20 in) hole), a wooden stick, and push pins. First, cut the outline of a feather shape from each denim scrap—it should look like a long teardrop. Cut a piece of twine that’s 2 inches (5.1 cm) inches longer than the denim scrap. Cover it with fabric Mod Podge and place it on the center of the cutout feather like a spine. Create a feather effect in your denim scrap by pulling out the threads to fray it on each side of the twine. Repeat with your other denim scraps and push a wooden bead down the twine of each feather to secure it into a loop. Insert push pins along the back of your wood stick. Use more twine to fix the feathers to them so they hang at different lengths. Your boho decoration is complete!

The Benefits of Crafting for Seniors

Crafts may improve dexterity and strengthen hand muscles. While seniors often face limitations on their mobility and dexterity, participating in crafts can help you improve your dexterity by exercising your fine motor skills. Doing certain crafts can strengthen the muscles in the hands.

Doing crafts in a group setting offers social stimulation. A sewing circle or weekly craft club can help you avoid isolation and loneliness no matter your age. Connect with fellow seniors who find the same joy in crafting as you do.

Enaging in crafts could reduce your risk of dementia. One study found a 7% reduced risk of dementia among those who reported engaging in crafts like painting, drawing, woodwork, and metalwork. The study analyzed data from 10318 people age 70 and older, following up with them over 10 years to see which were diagnosed with dementia.