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How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

completed paper fortune teller or cootie catcher

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 1 crease the paper to begin making your paper fortune teller

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.

step 2

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 for paper fortune teller

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.

how to fold a paper fortune teller

Press down on the fold with a fingernail so it stays in place.

folding a paper fortune teller

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.

completing folds to make a paper fortune teller

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.

add colors and numbers to paper 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!”

label a paper fortune teller

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.

how to use a paper fortune teller

Then pick a number and count it out. As you do so, move your fingers with each letter and number called out.

how to use a paper fortune teller

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.

revealed fortune in paper fortune teller

62 Comments on How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

  1. it works!

  2. This does not teach you anything!

  3. how do you pick it up!!!!???? l dont like this

  4. This really didn’t help me. Im so confused.

  5. this help me so much 10 stars bravo!!

  6. this help me so much

  7. great

  8. This was good help for me to do my homework.

  9. wow this helpt me i love it ten stars

  10. Mmmmm sandwich yummy // September 21, 2020 at 9:26 am // Reply

    Tasty

  11. Kskjskskwnsisis // September 21, 2020 at 9:00 am // Reply

    Cool 😎

  12. It is so hard

  13. This is so good I did it

  14. its so hard

  15. oh yeah

  16. It won’t work for me

  17. I love them!!! so much 😍👍

  18. Thanks,I forgot how we played during school days. Your blog helped me play this again with my kids

  19. 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. = )

  20. So Cool🥳🤯😎

  21. thank you :3 love the rules u guys gave!!!!!!!!

  22. My fortune looks really weird.

  23. The one and only, the legendary warrior...Bob. // August 17, 2020 at 6:58 pm // Reply

    guys, the instructions are correct. It’s just REALLY hard to get your fingers in.

  24. guys, the instructions are correct. It’s just REALLY hard to get your fingers in.

  25. It didn’t really help me, unfortunately this is a big flop!

  26. I don’t know how to get my fingers in and I’m pretty sure that i followed the directions correctly.

  27. awesome

  28. this was no help

  29. thank you

  30. It worked I like it

  31. How do you do the ending part it is a square how do you even fold it right!?!?!?

  32. This was a great way to make it and the instructions were very detailed although I don’t now the last step

  33. anime weeb // May 19, 2020 at 5:19 pm // Reply

    the memories

  34. Cool!

  35. Anonymous // May 2, 2020 at 1:10 pm // Reply

    confusing

  36. Mean Mom // May 1, 2020 at 3:58 pm // Reply

    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.

  37. I try it tree time in my home how make papers work like a envelope it’s very easy and cool.

  38. oragami nerd // April 26, 2020 at 4:49 pm // Reply

    It really helped me !
    Thanks

  39. Super duper popper // April 20, 2020 at 8:26 am // Reply

    Horrible didn’t understand how to do it

  40. really bad it doesn’t show the last part. How are you meant to do it?

  41. It works!

  42. well its mo my falt I cant fold things correctly so this was very hard for me

  43. not useful and you cant do the last part

  44. The Deathly Hallows. // March 23, 2020 at 4:51 pm // Reply

    It was fun but hard to understand, could make it a bit more simple.

  45. not helpful i do to get hows to fold the last part so it works

  46. Sing queen // March 2, 2020 at 5:06 pm // Reply

    So fun!

  47. It works and I would recommend using this

  48. This is very good advice!

  49. Awesome job

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