How to Make Origami Fortune Teller Step by Step

How To Make an Origami Fortune Teller

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(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Sometimes it's just more fun to let a little piece of paper make a decision for us, be it paint color, vacation spot, or dinner delivery. You might remember these paper fortune tellers (also known as cootie catchers, chatterboxes, salt cellars, or whirlybirds) from your grade school days, made to pass time and bring a laugh or three. They're great to play around with for nostalgia sake, or when you just can't make that really "difficult" decision on your own.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

A fortune teller works by having the person who's fortune is being told choose a color from the ones labeled on the outer folds. The operator of the fortune teller then spells out that color by moving the sides in and out in a pinch and pull motion four times as they spell out "B-L-U-E". After spelling out the color, freeze your hands in whichever position they are in when they land on the last letter. Four numbers should now be showing when you look inside the paper toy. Have the person who's fortune is being told pick one of these four numbers. Move the fortune teller that exact number of times, then have the person pick one last number. Flip the paper over to reveal the fortune that corresponds with the last number they picked.

What You Need

Materials

• 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper

Tools

• Scissors
• Writing instrument (crayons or markers if you want to get colorful!)

Instructions

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

1. Lay your sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper on a flat surface so the 11″ side is vertical.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

2. Bring the bottom left corner over to the right edge and press firmly along the fold.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

3. While the first fold is still in place, bring the bottom right corner over to the left edge of the paper and press firmly along the fold.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

4. Trim off the top portion of paper that has not been folded.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

5. Unfold your paper to its original position and press flat.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

6. Bring the bottom right corner up to the center of the square, press firmly along the fold. Repeat this step with each remaining corner.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

After step 6 has been completed with all corners, your square should now look like the photo above.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

7. Flip the new square over so that the folds are now on the back side.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

8. Once again, fold each corner up to the middle of the square, press firmly along the fold.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Once each corner has been folded, the square should look like the photo above.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

9. Bring the bottom half of the square up and fold in half along the middle horizontal fold as shown in the photo below.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

10. Unfold step 9 and repeat this step, folding along the middle vertical line as shown.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

11. Insert your thumb and pointer fingers under the petals, or outer folds, on each side and press up and towards the center of the square so that peaks form on the tops of each outer corner as shown.

Now it's time to fill in those boxes! Open up the fortune teller and lay it flat so that the four outer boxes are facing up.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

12. Traditionally, the outer boxes are labeled with colors, grab a pen or crayon and label each box with a color.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

13. Flip the paper over and label each of the 8 triangular sections with numbers. They can be any number you like, just remember the higher the number, the more work you fingers will have to do!

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

14. Lastly, fold back the triangle sections and write fortunes (paint colors, or names of restaurants!) on the insides of each section. You should end up with 8 fortunes (or mis-fortunes!). Refold your fortune teller and help your loved ones make rational, informed decisions. Have fun!

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Re-edited from a post originally published on June 30, 2015

Ashley Poskin

Contributor

Ashley traded the quiet life of a small town in a big house for the hustle and bustle of the Windy City. On any given day you might find her working on a freelance photo or blogging gig, wrangling her little darling, or walking Chuck the boxer.

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How to Make Origami Fortune Teller Step by Step

Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-fortune-teller-221014

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