How to Fold a Fortune Teller from One Sheet of Paper

What You’ll Need

One square sheet of paper. Origami paper works well, but you can cut ordinary printer paper into a square.
A flat surface for folding. A ruler is optional if you need help making a square or sharpening creases.
A pen or pencil, if you want to write colors, numbers, or fortunes on the finished fortune teller.

Step-by-Step

Make a square. Start with square paper. To make a square from a rectangular sheet, bring one short edge across to meet a long edge, creating a triangle. Press the diagonal crease, then cut or tear off the rectangular strip below it. Open the triangle to reveal your square.
Crease the square in quarters. Place the paper flat with the side you want visible facing down. Fold it in half from left to right, crease firmly, and unfold. Fold it in half from top to bottom, crease, and unfold. The two creases should cross at the center.
Fold all four corners to the center. Bring each corner point to the intersection of the creases. Line up each tip with the center, then press each fold flat. You should now have a smaller square with four triangular flaps meeting in the middle.
Turn the paper over. Keep the folded corners tucked in and flip the whole square over. The smooth side should face up, with no corner points visible at the center.
Fold the new corners to the center. Bring each of the four corners of this side into the center point, just as before. Align the tips carefully and crease them down. The paper will now be a smaller square divided into four sections.
Fold the square in half both ways. Fold the square in half, crease it, then unfold. Fold it in half in the other direction and unfold again. These creases loosen the pockets and help the fortune teller open. Keep the side with the four small squares facing you.
Open the pockets. Turn the paper over. Slide your thumbs and index fingers under the four flaps, one finger into each pocket. Pinch the folds gently so the flaps lift and the middle sections form a four-point shape.
Shape and label it. Open and close the fortune teller by bringing your fingers together and apart, then switching directions. If desired, write a color on each outside flap, numbers inside, and a short fortune beneath each numbered flap.

Common Mistakes

Starting with a rectangle: A non-square sheet makes the folds uneven and can leave the finished fortune teller lopsided. Trim it to a square before beginning.
Missing the center point: If the corners do not meet at the intersection, the inner flaps may overlap or leave a gap. Use the crossing creases as a guide and adjust each corner before pressing it flat.
Folding the wrong side inward: After the first four corners are folded, turn the paper over before folding the next four. Skipping the turn changes the pocket arrangement.
Creasing too loosely: Soft or rounded folds can make the paper spring open. Press each crease with a fingertip or the side of a ruler, without tearing the paper.
Forcing the pockets open: Pulling the flaps sharply can rip the center. Ease your fingers under the pockets and work the folds open gradually.

Tips

Use thin, flexible paper for easier opening. Very thick card is difficult to fold into small pockets.
For a neat result, rotate the paper as needed so each corner is easy to reach, and check that its tip meets the same center point.
Write on the fortune teller after folding, when you can see which panels are outside and which are inside. Test the opening sequence before adding fortunes.
Keep fortunes short enough to fit beneath the numbered flaps. A few words or a simple sentence are easier to read.
If you are making one with a child, let them choose the labels and fortunes; an adult can help trim the starting paper square.

Troubleshooting

It will not open and close: Check that your fingers are inside all four pockets, not gripping the outside surfaces. Gently flex the folds in both directions to loosen them, then try moving your fingers in pairs.

The center is too stiff: The last folds may be tightly compressed, or the paper may be too heavy. Open the fortune teller and lightly work the creases back and forth. If it still resists, start again with thinner paper.

The points do not line up: Unfold the most recent corner folds and use the original center creases to find the exact meeting point. Refold one corner at a time; do not pull the paper to force the tips together.

A flap is tearing: Stop pulling and flatten the model. Small tears near a pocket can spread when handled. Use a fresh sheet if the tear affects the pocket or center, and handle the replacement gently.

The fortune teller is uneven: Check whether the starting square was accurate and whether the first two creases crossed through its center. Minor differences can be corrected by reopening and aligning the remaining folds; a badly uneven base is easier to remake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should the paper be?

Any square can work, but a sheet around 15 cm (6 inches) per side is a convenient size for folding and writing. Smaller paper makes narrow pockets; larger paper makes a bigger fortune teller.

Can I use regular printer paper?

Yes. Cut it into a square first. Printer paper is usually flexible enough, though it may feel less sturdy than origami paper after repeated opening and closing.

Which side of the paper should face up?

If the paper has a colored or patterned side, begin with that side facing down for the first corner folds. The design will show on the outside panels after you turn the paper over and complete the next folds.

How do I add fortunes?

Write four colors or words on the outside flaps and numbers on the inner triangles. Under each number, write a short fortune. Open and close the model to check that each message is hidden until its flap is lifted.

Is a fortune teller the same as a cootie catcher?

Yes. The folded paper toy is commonly called a fortune teller or a cootie catcher; names and the fortunes written inside can vary.

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