How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller
Learn how to fold this classic paper fortune teller game and fill it with hidden messages for your friends. This fun origami is also sometimes called a cootie catcher.
If you enjoy this paper-folding project, try making an Origami X-Wing Fighter!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO FOLD A PAPER FORTUNE TELLER
- 8 ½-by-11-inch piece of construction paper cut into a square
- Markers
HOW TO CUT A PERFECT SQUARE
If you don’t have a square piece of paper, here’s an easy way to cut an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of paper into a square.
WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A PAPER FORTUNE TELLER
STEP 1: Crease a square piece of paper diagonally from each corner. Fold the top right corner to touch the bottom left corner. Crease the fold with your finger and then unfold it so your sheet is flat again. Then take the top left corner and fold it over to the bottom right corner.
STEP 2: Fold the paper in half from each side. Bring the top edge of the paper to the bottom edge and crease the fold.
Unfold the paper so it’s flat again and rotate it by 90 degrees. Fold the new top edge of the paper to the bottom to crease it and then flatten it out again. Your paper will have four lines intersecting in the middle.
STEP 3: Bring the corners to the center of the paper. Start with one of the bottom corners and fold it to the middle of the paper where the creases intersect.
Press down on the fold with a fingernail so it stays in place.
Turn your paper 90 degrees and fold the other bottom corner toward the center. Keep rotating and folding your paper until you’ve made a smaller square containing four triangles.
Flip the paper over and fold each corner to the center again.
STEP 4: Put numbers in ascending order on the triangles. Start with the No. 1 in the smaller top left triangle on the fortune teller. Write the numbers in ascending order clockwise around the triangles until you get to eight.
Then pick four colors to write on the front side of the fortune teller.
STEP 5: Write the fortunes underneath the flaps. Open up the triangles labeled 1 and 2, and write a short fortune underneath each number. Write small so it fits in the space. Repeat the process under the flap for each number so you have eight different fortunes in all. Close the flaps once you’ve written all the fortunes.
Fortunes you can write:
- “Something amazing is coming your way tomorrow.”
- “You will live a very long and happy life.”
- “Do a Good Turn today!”
STEP 6: Slide your fingers underneath the squares to operate the paper fortune teller. Ask a friend to choose a color and spell it out.
Then pick a number and count it out. As you do so, move your fingers with each letter and number called out.
Last, have them pick another number to reveal their fortune. Lift the flap for the number they picked. Read your friend’s fortune out loud.
it works!
This does not teach you anything!
how do you pick it up!!!!???? l dont like this
pick it up with the parts where you wrote or put a color on the teller, an push it together so it makes a square or a star
no
Pretty sure your missing the last step!!
This really didn’t help me. Im so confused.
you put your hands under the colors
this help me so much 10 stars bravo!!
This is so bad I don’t even know how to operate it!!
this help me so much
great
This was good help for me to do my homework.
wow this helpt me i love it ten stars
Tasty
Cool 😎
It is so hard
It’s not that hard once you get the gang of it
This is so good I did it
its so hard
oh yeah
it is
It won’t work for me
I love them!!! so much 😍👍
Thanks,I forgot how we played during school days. Your blog helped me play this again with my kids
We made these when I was a kid and I made them for my son, who is now am adult. He says they were a lot of fun. = )
So Cool🥳🤯😎
thank you :3 love the rules u guys gave!!!!!!!!
My fortune looks really weird.
guys, the instructions are correct. It’s just REALLY hard to get your fingers in.
guys, the instructions are correct. It’s just REALLY hard to get your fingers in.
It didn’t really help me, unfortunately this is a big flop!
I didn’t have any issues with this. . .
I don’t know how to get my fingers in and I’m pretty sure that i followed the directions correctly.
me too
Good awesome
Cool
awesome
this was no help
thank you
It worked I like it
How do you do the ending part it is a square how do you even fold it right!?!?!?
This was a great way to make it and the instructions were very detailed although I don’t now the last step
the memories
Cool!
confusing
Nice! I totally remember making these in grade school! Just made one following your instructions and it turned out great! Using it as a chore chart for my 5 year old. Instead of a fortune he gets a chore! Daaaanng.
I agree. Very confusing.
I try it tree time in my home how make papers work like a envelope it’s very easy and cool.
I tried it way too confusing
It really helped me !
Thanks
Horrible didn’t understand how to do it
really bad it doesn’t show the last part. How are you meant to do it?
It works!
well its mo my falt I cant fold things correctly so this was very hard for me
not useful and you cant do the last part
It was fun but hard to understand, could make it a bit more simple.
not helpful i do to get hows to fold the last part so it works
So fun!
It works and I would recommend using this
This is very good advice!
Awesome job