These cute DIY paper fortune cookies are super easy to make! A fun Chinese New Year craft for kids, or even Valentine’s Day, wedding favors, birthday parties & much more…
Whether or not you celebrate Chinese New Year, I think you’ll agree that these paper fortune cookies are super cute! And they’re totally perfect for SO many other occasions — Valentine’s Day, birthdays, wedding receptions, etc. In fact, my youngest daughter already asked if we can make them again as Valentines…
Luckily, paper fortune cookies are really quite easy to make, so even large quantities won’t take long once you get the folding technique down.
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How To Make Paper Fortune Cookies
There’s no need to buy special origami paper — in fact, it’s probably too flimsy to hold the fortune cookie shape. Scrapbook paper works far better, is very inexpensive, and comes in a huge assortment of colors and patterns at a more than affordable price.
- scrapbook paper
- extra sticky glue dots*
- scissors
- 3.5″-4″ lid for tracing
- pen
- 0.5″x3″ strips of paper (for the fortunes)
*Note: I don’t recommend using the Duck double-sided tape pictured. It’s what I had on hand at home and I thought it would work, but it just wasn’t sticky enough to hold the paper fortune cookies closed for more than a few minutes. Look for an extra sticky double-sided tape or glue dots for best results.
Trace the circles on the back side of the scrapbooking paper, and carefully cut them out. You should be able to fit approximately six circles per sheet of paper. If you have a rotary paper cutter, you could eliminate this step altogether. Just set it to a 3.5″ or so diameter and start cutting.
Choose one of the cut circles and gently fold it in half, but don’t crease it just yet…
We want to form a crease on the fold but not across the entire circle. Crease only the center inch or so of the circle as shown here.
Open the circle back up, and fold it in half again, this time in the opposite direction from the crease we just made. It’s a little hard to see here, but if you look closely, you’ll see that the crease we just made is running perpendicular to the new fold.
Gently push the fold inward with your index finger while using your thumb and middle finger to bring both ends together.
Slip one of the fortunes in the opening on the side before bringing both ends completely together, and use an piece of the double-sided sticky tape extra sticky glue dot near the fold to hold the fortune cookie’s shape.
Hopefully my photos and instructions are clear enough for you to make these little favors yourself. If you’re struggling, let me know and I’ll make a quick video to show the folding action — I just didn’t have a helper at home earlier to assist me with that part.
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Origami Lights
If you love these paper fortune cookies or are just looking for more Chinese New Year crafts for kids, I think you’ll also adore these origami lights! They’re made from simple paper Chinese water bombs (did you make these when you were little?!), and we used scrapbook paper for them, as well.
april says
hello there, wondered if you would be able to show me a video of how you folded these. I can’t seem to get it right ? thank you so much as i think these fortune cookies are so darn cute and i really want to make them.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Hi April! Sure, I won’t be able to get to it today, but I’ll see if I can throw one together tomorrow. I’ll let you know when it’s available!
Helen Johnson says
Was looking for a simple craft for my Rainbows (5-7yr olds) & Brownies (7-10 yr olds) to do & found this ! It’s great & your instructions are so easy to follow. Can’t thank you enough Helen, Girl Guiding Leader
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Oh, I hope they love it! I was a Brownie when I was little, and I have such fun memories of the craft projects we used to do. Thanks so much for sharing with your troops, Helen.
sharon says
good idea for my granddaughter to make for thanksgiving…
Christine says
Thanks, I used these in place of a b-day card for my niece! I put 6 in a clear bag with a ribbon. My daughter made a few for her friend’s b-day, too!
Susan says
Where exactly do you put the sticky tape. I can’t quite tell
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Hi Susan! You would position the sticky tape or glue dot inside the fold, near the crease. If you do this and then bring the two ends together, it will be hidden inside the fold.
beachgirlscrappin says
I’m so glad I found you fortune cookies project idea on pinterest. I have a swap where I needed to create a something sweet card and had no idea what i was going to do – after seeing your pin a bag of fortune cookie will be perfect idea. Thanks for sharing
Rikki Kruger says
Hey Tara, I linked you to my site. Made sure to credit the photos to you as well as I borrowed them. you can see it here:
http://www.omgmommymoment.com/?p=134
if that’s not ok, please let me know so I can edit or delete my post.
Thank you :)
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Thanks, Rikki!
Sharon Sodman says
this is really a cute idea
Jennifer Moses says
Hello, I’m an SLP and have made a free product for students to work on understanding higher level language in quotes (fortune cookies). I’m wondering if I could reference this blog post on my blog and in my product to help teachers and other SLPs know how to make paper fortune cookies. Thanks, Jen
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Hi Jennifer! Sure, I don’t mind you including them. You may use a photo, but I’d appreciate it if you’d just include a link for them to get the instructions here. Thanks!
Jade Gunderson says
Great I’m making one right now
The Educational Tourist says
What fun!! Kids will enjoy making their own fortunes. This would be a great way to pass the time on a long road trip or airplane trip!
The kids could make enough for each day of the trip and have fun opening and reading fortunes each morning. LOVE!
Visit http://www.theeducationaltourist.com where I write about traveling with the kids.
Thanks for sharing,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
Ronja Lotte says
I just wanted to let you know that I linked you here as part of a “Best of paper craft”: http://nur-noch.blogspot.de/2014/09/best-of-paper-craft.html
I hope that is okay :-)
Best wishes, Ronja Lotte
(www.nur-noch.blogspot.de)
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Thanks so much, Ronja!