Five Fall Crafts for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Here are a selection of fall themed crafts that are suitable for seniors, kids, and those who may have arthritis or other hand strength & dexterity issues. The focus this time is on using base materials that can be gathered freshly outside during a fun activity or excursion. For those who may not have access to trees and other plants that would provide these materials, they can be inexpensively bought online or at local craft, hobby, art, or even grocery stores depending upon the exact item.
 
Other crafting supplies that will be needed include bases for wreathes (either pre-made ones or do-it-yourself ones such those made from pool noodles), glue, paint, scissors, felt or other decorative fabric. Some crafts may require more specialized materials such as plaster of paris, magnets, or tiles. A bit of preparation in advance may be required for those who chose to dry (or bake) their own materials and for those seniors who may have trouble handling knives for cutting fruit or using heavy irons.

Crafts

Pinecone Crafts

• Here are a selection of easy crafts that use pinecones as their main base materials. Pinecones can be bought from online or from local craft or hobby stores or they can be gathered fresh during an outdoor activity near applicable conifer trees. The main skills required are gluing and painting, making most crafts suitable for a variety of hand strength or dexterity levels. Some preparation in advance may be required for those crafts that require wire clippers for those with lower dexterity or hand strength. Stuffed Pinecone craft has been explicitly created to also act as a fine motor exercise for those with dexterity issues.
• Stuffed Pinecones Fine Motor Activity | Wreath | Pinecone Fairy | Magnets | Miniature Animals

Autumn Leaves Crafts

• These crafts use actual autumn leaves as a major source of material, although faux leaves can be substituted in most cases. Certain crafts may require more art supplies such as plaster or tiles. Gluing, kneading, cutting, and rearranging smaller sized objects are the main skills involved and thus these crafts are suitable for a wide variety of hand dexterity or strength levels. Some assistance may be required when it comes to particular steps such as securing twine to an embroidery hoop or ironing leaves into wax paper.
• Autumn Leaf Mobile | Plaster Plaques | Leaf Lantern | Sensory Jar | Coasters

Dried Corn Crafts

• These crafts use cornhusks, kernals, or entire dried corn cobs as their main bases. Drying & preparation of the corn pieces may be required for those using fresh corn instead of pre-dried corn parts. The main skills involved include gluing, folding, and painting. Some additional assistance may be required for those with more severe hand dexterity or strength issues when it comes to steps such as pinning husks to the wreath form, ironing husks to straighten or curl their shape. Painting with wide handled foam brushes can be substituted for spray can painting for those who may have trouble handling the air cans (or may not have a suitable area available for spraying)
• Cornhusk Doll | Cornhusk Wreath | Cornhusk Flowers | Dried Kernal Popcorn Wreath | Dried Corn Placeholder

Apples

• Autumn is prime harvesting season for many popular varieties of apples. Here are a sampling of tutorials to take advantage of the plentiful supply of that fruit during this time of year. Baking apples or the use of dehydrators can speed up the process of drying apples for decor or fake apples can be substituted for more durable & long lasting decorations. Painting & gluing are the main skills required for these crafts. Some advanced preparation may be required for those who can't safely handle knives for cutting apples.
• Apple Doll | Dried Apple Wreath | Faux Caramel Apples | Gift Bags | Bird Feeder

Acorns

• Here are a sampling of crafts that use dried acorns as their main bases. As acorns (as well as the supplies used to decorate them such as beads, googly eyes, and tiny scraps of felt) are on the smaller side for crafting materials, these may be more suitable for those with enough hand dexterity to grip smaller items. Otherwise the main skills required include gluing, painting, and cutting. While gathering acorns outside in the cool autumn air would be a good activity for the whole family, fresh acorns will then need to be baked before they can be incorporated in crafts. Already dried acorns can be found online or in local craft & hobby stores.
• Glitter Wall Art | Acorn People | Miniature Tea Set | Itty Bitty Owls | Wreath