Printable paper fortune teller

How do you make a paper fortune teller?

Fold a square along both diagonals and unfold. Bring the four corners to the center. Turn the paper over and bring the four corners to the center again. Fold in half both ways to loosen the paper. Turn it over, slide the thumb and index finger of each hand under the four square flaps and pinch.

How to make it

1. Cut out the square along the solid line. Start with the printed side down.
2. Printed side down. Fold along both diagonals and unfold.
3. Fold the four corners to the center.
4. Turn the paper over.
5. Fold the four corners to the center again.
6. Fold in half and unfold, both ways.
7. Turn over. Slide your fingers under the four square flaps.
8. Done! Pinch your fingers to open and close.

How to read the lines on the sheet

• A dashed line is a valley fold: the paper rises on both sides and the line sits at the bottom of the fold.
• A dash-and-dot line is a mountain fold: fold it away from you, and the line stays on the ridge, on the outside.
• A solid line is for cutting.
• The number on each line shows the step where you fold it. Some folds have no line because they are hidden; the second sheet shows them all.

Tips for a clean fold

• Before folding, color each of the four corners a different color and write eight messages in the blank triangles around the middle square.
• The corners must meet right at the center without overlapping.
• After step 5, push the four points toward the center to give the paper its shape.
• Short messages fit best: a dare, a compliment, a riddle.

Ways to play

• Classic game: a friend picks a color; open and close once for each letter. Then the friend picks a number; open and close that many times. Finally the friend picks another number and you read the message under it.
• Swap the messages for fun tasks: act like an animal, sing a song, do a jump.
• Use it to decide who goes first in a game.

Frequently asked questions