Senior Living News

1. Fall Wreath

Welcome your guests with a handmade fall wreath. You can find wreath forms at craft stores and dollar stores for an easy starting point. Foam wreath forms allow you to press faux fall flowers and leaves into the wreath. You can also hot glue the decorations onto the form. Ideas to decorate the wreath include:

• Faux fall leaves
• Faux flowers
• Wheat-style foliage
• Plastic pumpkins or gourds
• Pine cones
• Acorns
• Corn husks
• Dried corncobs
• Wooden fall shapes
• Fall-themed signs

When you're done, tie a wide, fall-themed ribbon to the top to create a hanging loop.

2. Seasonal Journal

Grab a plain journal and decorate it with a fall theme. You can paint the cover or add embellishments, such as fall-themed stickers or felt cutouts. Add more stickers and embellishments on some of the pages. Creating a personalized journal gives you a space to write your thoughts and feelings. Adding a journaling practice to your day helps you process your emotions, strengthen your memory and spark creativity. You can use the fall journal for your general thoughts or as a way to document your fall adventures.

3. Fall Painted Rocks

Crafts can be inexpensive when you get creative with the materials you use. Grab several rocks and paint them to look like different fall symbols. Look for rocks that are vaguely shaped like the symbol you want to paint. For instance, a flat, oval-shaped rock works well for a pumpkin. A rock that's narrow and rounded at the top and wider at the base could represent a ghost. Display the rocks in your apartment or leave them around when you go for walks for other people to discover.

4. Nature Crafts

Going on a nature walk is a great way to work in exercise, and it could also provide the supplies for a creative fall project. Leaves and pine cones are two examples of materials that produce beautiful craft projects. Try these options:

• Pine cone flowers: Paint pine cones in bright colors. Add a pipe cleaner or floral wire stem and display them in a vase.
• Scented pine cones: Make your own scented pine cones by adding a few drops of essential oil to them.
• Pressed leaf bookmarks: Place colorful fall leaves between paper and lay them under a pile of books to press them. Then, glue them to a piece of cardstock to make a homemade bookmark. Covering the bookmark with a few layers of Mod Podge helps seal in the leaves. Add ribbon or other embellishments to finish the look.

5. Pumpkin Decorating

You don't have to carve a pumpkin to create a fun fall display. Painting a real pumpkin makes it last longer so you can keep it on display in your apartment without it rotting quickly. Another option is to use faux pumpkins and decorate them with paint, ribbons, faux flowers and other decorations. You can even find carvable foam pumpkins if you want the experience of making a jack-o-lantern without the mess. Display your pumpkins on a table with other fall decor.

6. Tie Fleece Blankets

Warm fleece blankets are a great way to create a cozy, comforting environment in your assisted living apartment. No-sew fleece blankets offer a simple option with no need for special tools or supplies. You need two large pieces of fleece and a sharp pair of scissors.

When choosing your fleece, look for a fun fall pattern or warm fall colors. You might choose one that's decorated with leaves and a second fleece in a solid color that complements the pattern. For an adult-sized blanket, you typically want each piece to be at least 2 yards. The ties take up space and make the finished product a little smaller.

To make the tie fleece blanket, follow these steps:

1. Lay one piece of fleece on the other with the right sides out.
2. Trim the edges to make the pieces the same size.
3. Cut out a square from each corner based on the length you want the fringe. Common options are 5-inch or 6-inch squares.
4. Cut the fringe strips through both layers of fleece along all four sides. The slits should be the same length as the square you cut from the corner. Make each strip 1 to 2 inches wide.
5. Tie each pair of fringe pieces, top and bottom, together using a double square knot. Continue until you tie each fringe piece.

7. Fall Candle Displays

Grab realistic-looking battery-operated candles for safe, apartment-friendly options for fall crafts. Paint or decoupage a glass candleholder to give it a fall makeover. Place a battery-operated candle inside to give it a warm glow. An alternative is to fill a large clear glass vase or candleholder with mini pumpkins, glass leaves or other small filler items with a fall theme. Nestle the candle into the filler to finish the look.

You can also glue decorations directly to the faux candle. Cinnamon sticks or fall leaves create the cozy feeling you want for the season.

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