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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.

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 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

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.

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 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.

67 Comments on How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

  1. THIS IS SO GOOD!

  2. This Was So Good!

  3. Celtwoman // May 16, 2021 at 6:14 am // Reply

    Used to play this game with my friends back in the 1950s/60s. Simple entertainment.

  4. Anonymous // May 10, 2021 at 6:18 pm // Reply

    Give me some examples of fortunes to include.

  5. ThatOneGirl // May 5, 2021 at 1:44 pm // Reply

    So fun and easy! I will be making many more of these! Thank you!

  6. Anonymous // May 4, 2021 at 12:38 pm // Reply

    So cool

  7. Anonymous // May 4, 2021 at 5:07 am // Reply

    Ava
    It was realy FUN

  8. Anonymous // May 2, 2021 at 10:39 am // Reply

    its so easey

  9. You missed a step in it

  10. it was easy

  11. Really fun and easy If forgot how to make it so I read the instructions so I could make 19 fortune tellers

  12. The Weeknd // April 10, 2021 at 5:41 pm // Reply

    i seriously dont understand it at all

  13. it works

  14. OMG I CANT GET THIS AAAAAAAA

  15. verry cooll

  16. It works ,thanks it is fun

  17. impossible to fold dude….. CURSES!!!

  18. fun i did it

  19. cool

  20. This does not help making a fortune teller is impossible!

  21. It didn’t work

  22. It’s fun and it’s a great little game for when you need something to do.

  23. OrigamiYoda2021 // February 6, 2021 at 10:10 am // Reply

    It works!

  24. Tysm I forgot how to make it .

  25. It worked 4 me

  26. I forgot how to make but thank you for answering my calls on how to make the fortune teller and can you maybe do a paper boat just a suggestion

  27. The Kabooom!! // January 6, 2021 at 4:52 pm // Reply

    so easy and fun

  28. So easy and fun

  29. Just watch a video it will help

  30. my daughter got an f in her arts and talented class 1 star review

  31. Thank you, my granddaughter was having difficult time until I located your post.

  32. I do not like this

  33. it was fun i made my brother one and me one

  34. My grandson loved it so much

  35. I love the art that you made

  36. How do you get your fingers in the “holes”.

  37. I’mACoolKid // November 30, 2020 at 3:03 am // Reply

    Cool, thanks for this *peace out yo*

  38. It works Great, it’s just that you had to tell to turn the paper to the other side to make the smaller triangles/flaps. Thank you.

  39. i love imma prank my friends i put all not so good fortunes 10 stars!!

  40. it is funh

  41. hate it it does not help me

  42. It does not work

  43. I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE

  44. Cool

  45. yeah how do you pick it up ugh

  46. this did not work

  47. wow how do you hold it though?

  48. great thank you for teaching me ……. ahahahahaah … i have learned this before tho but i forgot…. anyways helpful and informative once again thank you super duper much – Queen Cutie

  49. am now learning but i hope for the best

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