Autumns Crafts for Seniors 2017

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

As temperatures cool and leaves begin to turn to brilliant colors, a new source of inspiration and crafting supplies becomes available. Here are a selection of autumn themed easy-to-do crafts suitable for seniors that make good use of seasonally available materials. Many of these do-it-yourself items can pull double duty as general fall decor as well as being incorporated with upcoming Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.

Crafts

Fall Leaf Garlands

• Bring autumn decor into your house using these simple craft that use basic easy-to-find supplies. Garlands can use real, artificial, or do-it-yourself leaves made out of other materials such as crepe paper. Most are suitable for those who may have arthritis or other hand dexterity issues as long as they are capable of handling a glue stick or ergonomic pair of scissors. 
• Woman's Day | Simple As That | House That Lars Built | House of Jade | We Hang Christmas Lights
  

Fall Leaf Wreaths       

• Made from a variety of materials, most wreaths use supplies that can be found around the house or easily bought online or at nearby craft stores. Feel free to sub in other bases such as pool noodles instead of having to shell out for a premade wreath base. Assembly of wreaths will require basic hand dexterity for cutting shapes with scissors, using glue or pins, as well as applying glue or paint.
• Cherished Bliss | The House of Smiths | Woman's Day | The Nested Home | Good Housekeeping
  

Autumn Leaves Artwork

• These autumn leaf based art take on different forms from posters to ornaments to stained glass window appliqués and use a variety of materials ranging from baking soda & cornstarch (for those senior loved ones more comfortable in the kitchen) to aluminum foil, contact paper, and shaving cream. Leaf shaped cutouts can be subbed in for those who don't have fresh leaves on hand.
  
• Twig & Toadstool | Teaching with TLC | Tattooed Martha | Babble Dabble Do | Artful Parent

Autumn Decoupage Gourds

• Pumpkins & other autumn gourds take on a more fanciful flair useful for interior or exterior decorating by using these various decoupage method. Gourds can be artificial, dried, or fresh (the latter putting a time limit on how long they will last) and can be created using glue or mod podge as well as leaves, petals, scrapbook or photo paper, fabric or whatever suitable decoupage material (anything thin or flexible enough to adhere to large areas of the gourds) may be at hand.
  
• Better Homes & Gardens | The Sweet Scape | Karen Ehman | Still Woods Farm House | Craftiments
  

Fall Decorative Bouquets

• These decorative bouquets suitable to be centerpieces or other decorations use leaves, acorns, pine cones, and other autumn related materials as their main bases. Some styles of bouquet may require preparation ahead of time (such as drilling into cones or clipping wires) before the more artistic parts of the process (such as painting, folding, gluing, and rearranging) can be turned over to senior loved ones.
• Design Sponge | Better Homes & Gardens | Woman's Day | Kras Arts | West Coast Mommy
  

Indian Corn Crafts

• These crafts use the autumn staple of indian corn as their bases, whether it be using the kernels, husks, or entire corn ears and come in a variety of styles including wreaths, garlands, and decorative dolls or pompoms. Some parts of the process such as bending wires or tying knots may require assistance for those with hand dexterity or strength issues. Indian corn can be bought fresh from local grocery stores or dried from local & online craft stores.
• Make It Easy Crafts | HGTV |  Gifts of Curiosity | Hoosier Homemade | 100 Layer Cakelet
  

Faux Leaf Bowl

• These leaf bowls use fake leaves as their base either incorporated as the bulk of materials that form the bowl or used as a pattern to mold the bowl shape around. Depending on the exact style of bowl being created, other basic materials such as glue or mod podge, paint, saran wrap, a round item such as a balloon or bowl from which to mold the shape, or salt dough ingredients may be required. Due to their simplicity these style of crafts are suitable for anyone who can grip some form of paint brush or apply enough pressure to adhere the leaves.
• Just a Bit of Clarity | Babble | Hometalk | Meaningful Mama | To Simply Inspire
  

Fall Mason Jar Containers

• These crafts use mason jars (or other containers with suitable shape) as their bases using paint, adhesive vinyl, leaves, glue or mod podge, and various fabric or trim as their materials. Some styles of jars will require more specialized supplies such as wooden pegs. Decorated jars can perform various functions including acting as a luminary or candle holder, vase, or candy holder. As these crafts use breakable materials, special care should be taken in their handling.
• Create Craft Love | Spark & Chemistry | Crafting in the Rain | Debbie Doo's | 36th Avenue