Suggestions please - crafts for older people

funnyfreckle

I would really appreciate some advice and suggestions from all you crafty people.

I helped out at a club for retired people today and did a simple craft for them as they are really keen to do some crafts. They loved it and kept saying that they would like to do more. I would be willing to go in again and help but I have used up one idea and wouldn't know what to try next!

Have you got any simple ideas of crafts that we might be able to tackle. There are a number of restrictions!
- they only have about half an hour for the craft
- fingers aren't that nimble and I had a group of about ten to run round to help so it needs to be pretty easy (and simple for me!!)
- I will be buying the materials myself so there is a imited budget
- not card making as they have people who come in and do that with them

Thank you so much for your thoughts
funnyfreckle

nic2075

What about fimo or clay? they can make small pots and maybe paint them too. i was thinking of card photo frames the can make and decorate (you could have the card strips already cut to size)

or maybe yoghurt pot birdfeeders? You would just need some pots, lard and some bird seed.

vikki_louise

Hello, we had a couple of groups of retired people do cards and knit finger puppets which they sent to seriously ill children at www.postpals.co.uk it really cheered the children up and the people crafting enjoying it as they knew they had made a difference

funnyfreckle

vikki_louise wrote: »

Hello, we had a couple of groups of retired people do cards and knit finger puppets which they sent to seriously ill children at www.postpals.co.uk it really cheered the children up and the people crafting enjoying it as they knew they had made a difference

Hi, thank you vikki_louise that is a good idea - I must be able to find one or two knitters! Do you know of any simple patterns that could be taught to non-knitters?

If anybody else has any suggestions for crafts that I could easily take them through then I would really appreciate it.

sethsgran

How about buying the cheap photo frames from Ikea etc. They can paint them then decorate the following week with various materials, silk flowers buttons etc.. http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=3&q=decorated+picture+frame+craft

funnyfreckle

sethsgran wrote: »

How about buying the cheap photo frames from Ikea etc. They can paint them then decorate the following week with various materials, silk flowers buttons etc.. http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=3&q=decorated+picture+frame+craft

Thankyou sethsgran. I run a toddler group and we are going to decorate frames for Mothers Day - I love your ideas of more 'grown up' embellishments for the older folk.

sethsgran

My mum sometimes makes cards at the daycentre she attends.
This pattern http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/my_pages/babywear/hkp/012.shtml is the simplest of hat patterns for a premature baby. Perhaps you could contact your local maternity unit to see if they have any wool you could knit up for them into hats or blankets. I would suggest knitting squares, max size 4" each, in garter stitch then sew them together to make really small blankets for the premature blanket. If the squares are sewn together as follows.. then the simplicity of the stitch looks great. At church we often make hats and blankets for the prem baby unit and the staff are so grateful as often parents take a hat home to compare size of how tiny their baby was.
See following link for other patterns. Maybe your ladies/gentlemen could ask their families to donate some wool, prob DK for the blanket and hat.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/my_pages/babywear/patterns.shtml

This is NOT my blanket just a link I found!

Christmas_

Hi,

Have you thought of writing to people like those who make prittstick and other stationers etc, explaining the situation and what you do and ask them for donations. You could build up a little craft pack, ease the burden on your purse and perhaps what they donate could help give you ideas for what to do.

I did this for my mother and toddler group before I had to give up work because of my health and most were generous, this was 05 though things may have changed some what. If you have a couple of hours, email is not a bad way to do it - it doesn't cost anything

sethsgran

fantastic idea Christmas

rainmac

How about these cute little baskets... http://bellesnwhistlesstamps.blogspot.com/2010/02/basket-full-of-sweets-mini-paper-basket.html Would easily be able to make one in half an hour if you pre-cut and scored the card.

Origami treat pocket... http://stampnscrapwithpaula.blogspot.com/2007/07/simple-little-treat-holder-tutorial.html. You could make the dimensions of the square bigger to make it easier to make.

Some kind of magnet, maybe a photo of a loved one run through a laminator and stick a small magnet on the back or paint wooden/plywood shapes and add a magnet? You can make peg magnets which are really useful as you can keep reciepts/papers in the peg stuck on the fridge.

Paint terracotta plant pot?

How about bath salts? Would need to look up some 'recipes' but they can easily be made with espom salts, food colouring and fragrance oil.

funnyfreckle

:TThanks Christmas_ for your great suggestion. I have never thought of that. I also run a really large toddler group so I might get something I can use for one or other of the groups!