Today I would love to share a Hello Fall! project and a wonderful experience that I had with some amazing women at my local Senior Citizens Center. Over the summer, I contacted the coordinator of the center to see if I could volunteer my time and bring a craft project for the seniors to work on. The coordinator was enthusiastic, but warned me that the last art project they tried was not a big hit.
I'm not sure they knew what to expect. Maybe they thought it would be construction paper and paste... But as you and I know, when Little Yellow Bicycle walks through the door, there is a lot of super fun crafting to be done and that is exactly what these ladies did to make this mini album recipe book.
They were such an amazing group and I was told that many of them have severe arthritis and a few are struggling with different forms of dementia. But you would never have guessed this to be the case from the enthusiasm and engagement from the group.
Because some of the participants have severe arthirtis, I designed a project that required almost no cutting with scissors and really just involved gluing it together. Little Yellow Bicycle makes chipboard albums that have precut papers, so we used the LYB101 6 x 12 Chipboard Album and the Hello Fall! paper pad with all of the paper cut to fit the album.
Each page is a combination of the Hello Fall! 6 x 12 paper pad, 6 x 6 Decorative Edge Cardstock and the 5 Things Envelopes. The idea is that you add your favorite recipes on a 4 x 6 notecard and then write a special note about the recipe on the 5 Things Envelope.
Once we got organized, it was easy for the participants to flip through the paper pad, find the papers they wanted to use and then adhere them to the chipboard album.
The colors in the Hello Fall! collection are so beautiful and the Decorative Edge cardstock add a fun and easy photo/recipe mat to each page.
Just add a litle bit of chipboard, some fresh verse stickers and jewel stickers. The page looks pretty polished and doesn't require any cutting unless you prefer to mat the recipe with another color like I did with the green patterned paper.
The recipe book was so easy to put together, that even my 4 year old son was able to help with some of the project. He was my sidekick for the day.
I just love the artwork on this collection and the tree is absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to see what some of the ladies write on the notes in the envelopes and I bet their recipes will be fantastic. One of the women is a phenomenal baker, so I REALLY want to see her finished recipe book.
This woman was so adorable. She told me that she was not very good at projects, but with a little assistance, she had a beautiful recipe book to take home with her and the smile and appreciation from all of the participants made this activity one of the very best I have ever done.
Everybody was diligent about putting their recipe books together and the coordinator said that she has never seen the group have so much fun working on a project. All of the volunteers that come each week to work with the seniors were glad that the project was stimulating the right side of their brains, which is sometimes hard to plan for...
I guess all of us crafters take the right sides of our brains for granted, because we probably over stimulate them with creativity, but we probably need to do a few crossword puzzles and try to reason through why we need so many craft supplies to make sure we stimulate the left side too.
It was such a wonderful day and the best part is they loved it so much that they want me to come back to make holiday cards and of course we'll be working with Little Yellow Bicycle.
Have a wonderful and crafty weekend!
This is GREAT! Looks like the ladies had a wonderful time! What a blessing you were to them :)
Posted by: hisglorygirl | Monday, October 15, 2012 at 09:14 PM
What a wonderful thing to do! I really love this! Sending you a big hug!
Posted by: Monique | Monday, October 15, 2012 at 08:03 AM
My gosh, what a fabulous and heartwarming post! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that Liz and Little Yellow Bicycle took the time to help these wonderful ladies! You guys ROCK!
Posted by: Audrey Pettit | Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 04:03 PM
That is so awesome! So nice of you and your son to do that! Happy it was a success and that they had so much fun!
Posted by: KellyG | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 09:09 PM
I am smiling!! What a wonderful idea! I am a Senior (young at heart) and love doing projects.
Sadly my center only wants play cards. Thank you and your adorable son for bring joy to these ladies.
Posted by: Jackie H | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 01:53 PM
Liz, what an incredible opportunity and idea. I love that you did this and that the ladies had such a great time as well.
Posted by: Cari Locken | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 12:51 PM
What a great gift for the women at the senior center! It just shows how easy it is to have a good time with people that are sometimes forgotten. Kudos to you and your son for your time and talent.
Posted by: JudyB | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 11:29 AM
What a wonderful idea!! I bet they really enjoyed their time doing this!
Posted by: Jean A Marmo | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 10:14 AM
This is amazing.... LOVED the project, but I loved the fact that you spend the time being and creating with seniors, that often don't get the chance to create! The projects was PERFECT...
Posted by: Jodi | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 09:34 AM
This is a fantastic story and such a wonderful thing you did, Liz, to engage these sweet ladies for a day. The project was adorable, well thought out, and I'm sure they (and their families) appreciated your thoughtfulness. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Traci Penrod | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 08:46 AM
What a touching and beautiful story!!
Posted by: julie Tucker-Wolek | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 08:39 AM
What a wonderful story!
Posted by: Kathy Skou | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 08:20 AM
The mini album is gorgeous, but how you shared it with this group of seniors really touched my heart! I work in a nursing home and see every day how kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated by the elderly. And there is a group there that would love to do something like this. Thank you for sharing this story!!!
Posted by: Juliana | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 08:10 AM
Beautiful album and project, Liz! The pictures of your participants are precious. I love the idea of going to make holiday cards. What a great service project!
Posted by: Aphra Bolyer | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 08:08 AM
You may have even given some of these ladies the SB Fever!
Posted by: Donna Woods | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 07:05 AM
Such a wonderful project and I love how you made it so easy for them to do. Congratulations for doing something so special. And I love that it was recipe book which their family can use in the future.
Posted by: Dorina D | Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Liz, so fun AND rewarding!!!! What a wonderful idea!!!! hugs, Katrina
Posted by: Katrina | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Go Liz! I loved reading all about your day. It truly is inspiring to see your project and all those smiling faces. What a wonderful thing you did by donating your time and talents! I'm so proud to call you my friend! I'm also inspired to check into where I can share my love of papercrafting in my own community. Thank you!!
Posted by: Robbie Herring | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Liz, this is one of the nicest posts I have read in a very long time. You selflessly gave your time and creativity to a group of women that would have relished in the attention and care that you showed towards them. You are a true inspiration to the crafting world. Now, when they have finished... make sure you jot down some of those secret family recipes. :)
Posted by: Melinda Spinks | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 10:58 PM
As a daughter of someone that lives in a senior complex, thank you! I know how much the ladies (and men too) enjoy having someone come in to not only share their talents, but to share their time too. So many of the residents where my mom lives do not have family near by and they so appreciate any attention from "the outside world". I just know those ladies loved that you shared your day with them!!! What a giving heart you have Liz.
Posted by: Mary Ann Jenkins | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 10:18 PM
Good for you! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Carla from Utah
Posted by: Carla Hundley | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 08:36 PM
The album is gorgeous and the time you gave to the seniors touches my heart!
Posted by: Heather Leopard | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 06:40 PM
Thanks for posting such an inspirational story. I love the simple project idea and that it was developed to help crafters in need!!!
Posted by: Misty | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 05:53 PM
What a heartwarming story! That is such a wonderful thing to have done, and how awesome that they want you to come back to make cards! Love this!
Posted by: Kris Berc | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 05:20 PM
This is a wonderful project and you are a great person to be willing to go help these ladies. I commend you for doing that. It looks like everyone enjoyed it. Great job and hugs to you for being a volunteer.
Posted by: Peg | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 04:06 PM
What a lovely post about a loving way to spend time and spread creativity with these sweet seniors. Thank you for the inspiration! :-)
Posted by: Janice Daquila-Pardo | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Such an amazing act of crafting goodwill, Liz, and such a beautiful keepsake project that everyone can use! I know how hard it is to engage the senior population in crafting projects. Alexa and I used to visit a local assisted living center every week and work on projects with the residents.
Posted by: Lisa Swift | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:04 AM
You deserve a big pat on the back and a "thank you" for lending your time to these ladies!
Posted by: Michelle | Friday, October 12, 2012 at 08:11 AM