4 Holiday Craft Projects for Your Residents

The holidays are a time when families come together to create long-lasting memories. Some families gather in the kitchen to cook, and others gather around a table to make holiday decorations and gifts. These moments are memorable for children, and cherished by aging loved ones. Read on to get craft ideas and learn how your community can win a $500 gift card!

Seasonal craft projects are also a great way to bring some holiday cheer into the lives of seniors. Having crafts at your community allows the residents to spend quality time together, and gives them something to look forward to when their family visits. Decorating your community Christmas tree and other common areas with handcrafted items creates a homelike cozy atmosphere that will be enjoyed by your residents, staff and visitors.

A Place for Mom recognizes the importance of making your residents feel loved this holiday season, so we have compiled a list of creative projects that you can do with your residents, or have ready for when their families come for a visit. These projects can also be a great way for your residents to connect with their grandchildren.

Craft Ideas for Your Residents

1. Button Tree Pictures

Button tree pictures have become popular on Pinterest, and they are a project that allows residents with varying abilities to join in the fun. The materials are inexpensive and fairly easy to come by.

To get started, draw a simple tree on construction paper, and then let the residents decorate with colored buttons and other craft supplies. Residents who enjoy more advanced artwork and painting may wish to try using multiple canvases, oil paints and buttons to make a dramatic series of pictures. Button trees are also a unique way to create a visual family tree, especially for those residents with multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All of these variations can be easily customized for the holidays or as a general art project any time of the year.

2. Sock Snowmen

Cute sock snowmen are an easy project to make with grandkids and the kids will love showing off their handiwork. Snowmen can even be personalized to look like favorite movie characters!

A tube sock works perfectly, stuff the bottom with soft cotton or rice and tie off in the middle and at the top. Hats and scarves can be made with baby socks or fabric scraps and the face with small buttons or pieces of felt.  Details or faces can also be added with markers but that is easiest to do before the sock is stuffed.

3. Manicures

Manicures are always popular with both residents and their grandkids. Girls of all ages enjoy having their nails done, and there are many holiday designs featuring favorite characters from movies and books.

Holiday themed nails are also a fun way to get ready for your community holiday party, so here are some designs to get you started. Remember that nail polish containing glitter or sparkles is also a festive way to get in the holiday spirit!

4. Log Santa Family

These Christmas Log Santas would look great outside of each resident’s apartment – what a fun way to decorate your community for the holidays!

This log project is an enjoyable and easy craft that can be easily customized and made with buttons, cotton for the beard or felt miniature Santa hats. This is also cute when made with varying sized logs, a taller log to represent the grandparent and smaller ones for each of the grandchildren. If you prefer they could also be made as snowmen, which would be easier to customize for different family members.

Community Craft Contest

In spirit of the holidays, and because we love the idea of doing craft project at your community, we have decided to give away a $500 gift card to the craft store of your choice! Entering is easy! All you have to do is email a photo of the craft project your community is working on. Please note that the project does not have to be one of the projects listed in this article.

Email your photo(s) to Content@aplaceformom.com with the name of your community. Remember to get creative and have fun with the photos! We will feature the winner in our December newsletter. All entries must be received by Monday, December 14, 2015, no later than 11:59 p.m. PST.

Related posts: