Autumn Crafts for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

The brightly colored foliage and  abundance of harvest items make autumn a particularly inspiring time of year when it comes to art projects, crafts, and other ways of creating your own handmade decor.
 
Here are a handful of crafts, both inherently easy-to-do or whose steps can be simplified for those with hand dexterity issues, that would be suitable for entertaining any senior loved ones with an artistic bent in your life. (And completed projects can be used to adorn the rooms for upcoming family gatherings, such as Thanksgiving)

Pimp My Gourd

• Have your seniors create these flashy & eyecatching decorations using dried gourds markers, paint, glitter, rhinestones, pompoms, buttons & other small baubles that are easy to glue on.
  
• Check out more detailed instructions at Aunt Peaches

Corn Husk Dolls

• Recreate these Native American style corn husk crafts using discarded or dried corn husks (at least 9-10 per doll), styrofoam balls, glue, scissors & string, as well as dried moss or ribbons for the hair.
  
• Note that seniors with hand dexterity issues may require a bit of extra help here.
  
• View step by step instructions at Elder One Stop

Leafy Jar Candle Holder

• Recycle an empty jar into this lovely candle luminary by providing your seniors with paint, and a leaf stencil (or a leaf to trace over) on either adhesive vinyl or wide tape.
  
• View full instructions with in-progress pictures at Create Craft Love

Leaf Fall Mobile

• Create this falling leaf mobile using real dried autumn leaves, fake leaves, or have your seniors cut off leaf shapes from colored paper. Twine or ribbon, an embroidery hoop, loop of thick wire, or other suitable rounded rim, as well as pinecones for weight round out the needed supplies.
• See the Wind Fall mobile at Good Housekeeping

Acorn Treat Holder

• Have your seniors create these fall acorn holders by wrapping twine around the wide ends of empty plastic Easter eggs from the spring. Add in another holiday by filling them with leftover Halloween candy.
• Check out these cute treat holders at Better Homes & Gardens