Summer Crafts for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Summer is a time of year where people of all ages tend to be on the go and spending much more time outside than during the chillier months and so these crafts focus on items suitable for outside decorations & activities. Tutorials focus on designs that use common household objects and which can be made with relative ease for beginners or for those with strength or hand dexterity issues.
 
Please always keep safety in mind when it comes to those crafts that require open flames or the melting of materials.

Summer Windchimes

• These particular styles of windchimes are made from various translucent materials such as sea glass, acrylic, and plastic to all the better to catch & reflect the rays of the summer sun. Some varieties require a bit more manual dexterity (for tying knots or stringing beads ) or may require some prep work ahead of time (such as drilling into wood or safely melting plastic ). Remember that melting plastic is best done in a well ventilated area, such as outside over a grill.
  
• Sea Glass | Mosiac Tiles | Mason Jar | Melted Plastic
  

Bird House/Feeders

• Summer is a great time for bird watching, so lure some plummage friends over using these do-it-yourself bird houses and feeders that are made from a wide range of materials from popsicle sticks to milk cartoons to aluminum cans. Some are more durable for outside use, while others are more temporary or decorative. However, all can be made with common household items (or with a quick trip to a nearby hardware store if you & your senior loved one are feeling fancy).
• Milk Carton [1, 2] | Popsicle Sticks [1, 2] | Empty Cans [1, 2]
  

Summer Suncatchers

• If you'd like the glimmer & color without the accompanying sound from a windchime, try these do-it-yourself suncatchers instead for the brightest, sunniest time of the year. These are many different styles available that use various materials that can be found around the house and are suitable for varying levels of crafting ability and manual hand dexterity.
• Tissue Paper [1, 2] | Other Paper [1, 2] | Melted Beads [1, 2] | Glass & Beads [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] | Faux Stained Glass [1, 2, 3] | Plastic Lid
  

Butterfly Feeders

• The various styles of butterfly feeders use a wide array of base materials ranging from mason jars, plastic plates & bottles, empty towel rolls, as well as tin cans. Durability of the finished feeder also varies depending upon the exact supplies being used. Some styles may require a bit more hand dexterity in their creation or preparation ahead of time such as drilling or punching holes into lids, cans, and plates.
• Mason Jar [1, 2, 3] | Acrylic/Plastic Plate [1, 2] | Plastic Bottle | Aluminum Can | Towel Roll
  

Bug Repellant Luminaries

• These crafts can pull double duty by helping to keep bugs away with what many people consider a pleasant scent while also providing lighting inside the house, outside in the yard, or wherever they may be used. Making the candles from scratch instead of reappropriating already made ones requires the use of specialized equipment such as double boilers or by jury rigging pots within pots for boiling.
• Remember to always keep candles & other luminaries on solid bases that can't be easily knocked over and to also keep an eye on the open flames, never allowing them to burn without supervision.
• Floating Candle Luminaries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  
• Citronella Candles [1, 2, 3]
  

Summer Coasters

• These do-it-yourself coasters are perfect accompaniments for helping to keep a senior loved one hydrated with fresh drinks during the hot summer days when the elderly tend to be more at risk for heat related illnesses. Practical to use, and fun to make, these use a wide range of materials such as straws, rope, cork, and wooden chips for their bases. Some variations (such as those using perler beads) will require more manual hand dexterity.
• Cork [1, 2] | Tiles [1, 2] | Wood | Straws | Rope
  

No Sew Sunglass Cases

• When it comes time for fun in the sun, peepers need to be protected from UV rays to help prevent the formation of cataracts within the eyes. Those oh-so-necessary sunglasses can be carried around in these fun & stylish do-it-yourself style sunglass cases. These tutorials all feature no-sew versions, which are easier crafting for those with arthritis or other hand dexterity or strength issues.
• Felt [1, 2] | Leather [1, 2] | Bandana/Fabric [1, 2] | Duct Tape | Washi Tape