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...
Paper Fortune Cookies
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 Valentine fortune cookies for her school party...
Luckily, origami 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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Origami Fortune Cookie Supplies
And the best part? DIY paper fortune cookies are also inexpensive to make. There's no need to buy special origami paper -- in fact, it's probably too flimsy to hold the fortune cookie shape. Scrapbook paper is sturdier 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 totally thought it would work. But it just wasn't sticky enough to hold the paper fortune cookies closed for more than a few minutes. Whomp, whomp...
Look for an extra sticky double-sided tape or extra sticky glue dots for best results.
How To Make Paper Fortune Cookies
Okay, folks -- this is origami at its easiest! Seriously, anyone can figure out how to make a fortune cookie out of paper... It does require a few steps, but once you make one, you can churn them out like crazy. Even my 8-year-old got in on the action, after a quick demonstration.
Start by tracing the circles on the back side of the scrapbooking paper, and then carefully cutting them out. You should be able to fit approximately six circles per sheet of paper.
PRO TIP: If you have a rotary paper cutter, you could eliminate this step altogether. Just set it to a 3.5" 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 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 fun little party favors yourself. If you're struggling, let me know, and I'll make a quick video to show the folding action!
How To Make Paper Fortune Cookies
Equipment
- [rotary paper cutter], optional
- [scissors]
- 3.5″-4″ lid for tracing
- pen
Materials
- 2 sheets of scrapbook paper
- 12 extra sticky glue dots
- 12 paper strips measuring 0.5″x3″, for the fortunes
Instructions
- Trace the circles on the back side of the scrapbooking paper, and carefully cut them out. If you have a rotary paper cutter, you can eliminate this step altogether. Just set it to a 3.5″ or so diameter and start cutting.
- Take one of the cut circles and gently fold it in half. Smooth out a hard crease on just the center inch or so of the fold.
- Open the circle back up, and fold it in half the opposite way. The small crease you just made should be 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 a fortune in the opening on one side before bringing both ends completely together. Secure the paper fortune cookie closed with an extra sticky glue dot positioned near the fold.
Customizing DIY Paper Fortune Cookies
The dimension I give in the instructions make a paper fortune cookie that about the size of a real fortune cookie. But my suggested sizes are just that -- suggestions.
You can totally customize these paper fortune cookies to your heart's desire. Make them giant, or make them tiny. Include a handwritten fortunes, or print some off. Add glitter or use shiny gold foil scrapbook paper. There are so many possibilities!
Origami String 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 paper lanterns with lights! Each string light cover is made from a simple paper Chinese water bomb (did you make these when you were little?!), and we used scrapbook paper for them, as well.
I'd love to see how your paper fortune cookies turn out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check them out. Enjoy!
Juli says
These are so cute. My husband is being deployed and I've been looking for ideas for care packages our kids and I can make for him. These will be perfect for little "I miss you" notes. Thank you
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
LOVE this idea, Juli -- thanks for sharing!
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:
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 The Educational Tourist 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!