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Make your own paper fortune teller

Write the colours and fortunes, print the template, fold it in two minutes. The classic playground cootie catcher, your words.

Drawing the template…

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How to fold a paper fortune teller

  1. Cut the square. Print the template and cut along the outer border so you have a perfect square.
  2. Printed side down. Lay it face down and fold all four corners into the centre point along the dashed diamond. You will see the four colours.
  3. Flip it over. Fold the four new corners into the centre again, along the inner square. Now you see eight numbered triangles.
  4. Fold in half. Fold it in half both ways and unfold, to soften the creases.
  5. Fingers in. Push your thumbs and index fingers into the four coloured pockets underneath and pinch the points together. Done.

How to play

Your friend picks a colour. Spell it out, opening and closing the fortune teller once per letter (in, out, in, out). They pick one of the numbers they can see, and you count it out the same way. Then they pick a final number; lift that flap and read their fortune aloud, dramatically.

Questions about paper fortune tellers

How do you make a paper fortune teller?

Start with a square of paper. Fold the four corners to the centre, flip it over, fold the four new corners to the centre again, then fold it in half both ways and push your thumbs and fingers into the four pockets underneath.

How do you play the fortune teller game?

A friend picks a colour; you spell it out, opening and closing the fortune teller once per letter. They pick a number from the inside and you open and close that many times. They pick a final number and you lift that flap to read their fortune.

What size paper do I need?

Any square works. Our template prints at about 18 cm (7 in) on A4 or US Letter paper. Trim the white margin so you have a perfect square.

What is a paper fortune teller called?

It is also called a cootie catcher, a chatterbox, a salt cellar or a whirlybird, depending on where you grew up.

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