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 Β½-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

27 Comments on How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

  1. Anonymous // June 8, 2026 at 9:35 am // Reply

    We did these back in the 70s at school. Had fun with them.

  2. I’ve revised this. on the outside you have 4 numbers, (turns), on the inside you have eigth colors. Pick a color, reveal the fortune.

  3. How do I put my fingers in? You could have at least provided a video

  4. Redjupiter93 // May 15, 2026 at 7:11 pm // Reply

    so, for the people who cant figrue out how to do it if you are on the triangle side, flip it and put your finger under each square to form the shape

  5. Indigo sparkle // March 31, 2026 at 6:19 am // Reply

    Bro this is so hard like where do you put ur fingers???? πŸ˜…πŸ˜‚πŸ˜ 

    • Seven Stories // April 13, 2026 at 11:20 am // Reply

      I agree. Like they should have videos that show how to put your fingers in. Also I wished they had a bunch of ideas for fortunes cuz I had to go digging on google

  6. Thank you because I am in class and it is 12 27 pm

  7. more game

  8. I need ideas for the fortuneteller?

  9. These things are basically a very simple version of how LLM “AI” software works.

    Just as these things know nothing but can look like they come out with real stuff, AI slop generators know nothing but come out with stuff that looks real.

  10. fortune tellers stink // February 6, 2026 at 12:37 pm // Reply

    HOW DO YOU FLIPPING DO THIS?!?!?!?

  11. i tried.. this is my like 100000th time😭😭😭😭😭

  12. I don’t know ?

  13. it was very hard but i did it

  14. ChknGamer YT // December 18, 2025 at 8:34 am // Reply

    bro how do u do the part were u put ur hands in it. ive gone thru 8 sheets of paper already.

  15. Hi! Dogwalker likes dog walking too much

  16. this is hard how can u do it perfectly……

  17. Heeeeeeelp meeeeeeeeeeeee with this thing πŸ™πŸ™

  18. it was not coming out right and how do you make a perfect square.

  19. OHHHH NOOOOOOOO

  20. It was little confusing but you don’t even need to read the title you can understand it just by the picture

  21. doglover1417 // October 14, 2025 at 5:21 pm // Reply

    I had no idea how to make one before. Helped a lot.

  22. no help

  23. This helped me a lot.

  24. Dogwalker 2000 // September 9, 2025 at 4:45 pm // Reply

    Can I walk the dog with this?

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