This little gem is part nostalgia, part paper magic, and 100% handmade charm. It folds up like those old-school paper fortune tellers (cootie catchers, anyone?) but inside? It’s packed with personal messages, birthday wishes, snarky surprises, or whatever creative chaos your little heart desires.
Step by Step Fortune Teller Greeting Card Video
In this video I walk you through how to make a fortune teller step by step and then decorate it for your recipient
Cootie Catcher Supplies Needed
- (1) sheet of 12X12 scrapbooking paper
- scraps of paper to be cut into squares
- glue stick
- bone folder
- scissors
- various stamps, stickers, etc
How to Fold a Fortune Teller
Step 1: Flip the Paper
Turn the paper pattern side down
Step 2: Fold corner to corner
Fold the square diagonally in half to form a triangle. Crease well, then unfold. Repeat with the opposite corners. You should now have two diagonal creases forming an “X.”
Step 3: Fold In half twice
Fold the square in half from bottom to top and crease. Open it back up and rotate one turn and repeat the process.
Step 4: Fold all corners to the center
Turn the paper right-side up. Fold each corner into the center point where the creases meet. This will create a smaller square. Crease each fold well.
Step 5: Flip it over
Carefully flip your folded square over to the back side.
Step 6: Fold all corners to the center again
Just like before, fold each corner into the center point. You’ll now have an even smaller square.
Step 7: Fold in half (both ways)
Fold your new square in half horizontally, crease, then unfold. Fold in half vertically, crease, then unfold. This helps shape the paper for the next step.
Step 8: Open up the flaps
Slide your fingers under the four square flaps on the bottom side. Gently push the flaps toward the center so the fortune teller pops into shape.
Decorate your Fortune teller
To decorate your fortune teller you’re going to need decorative paper. I use scrap paper.
Cut 4 squares of paper for the front of your fortune teller and set aside
Cut 8-10 squares out of different patterns of paper
Next, fold those 8-10 squares in half diagonally and cut down the line to create two triangles
Next, fold each triangle in half and cut again.
Measurements for your starting square are below based on your beginning paper size
| Paper size | Cut 8-10 Squares | Cut 4 Squares |
| 6X6 | 2 | 1 7/16 |
| 8X8 | 2 13/16 | 1 7/8 |
| 12X12 | 3 7/8 | 2 3/4 |
Take the 4 squares you created for the front of your fortune teller and fold them in half diagonally. Glue them to the front four squares.
Take your small triangles and glue one triangle in each of the triangular spaces throughout your fortune teller.
Embellishing your Cootie Catcher Greeting Card
Use whatever you have on hand
- Stamps
- Stickers
- Cricut Cutouts
- Ephemera
- Gemstones
- Markers
- Watercolor
