Materials

8.5” x 11” sheet of paper (e.g., scrapbook, notebook, construction paper, etc.)

Scissors

Colored pencils or crayons

Instructions

01. PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS

Pick your paper. Using your scissors, cut your paper down to create a square shape. 

02. FOLD IN HALF

Fold and crease your paper in half by bringing opposite sides together. Unfold, then bring the other two sides together to create a second fold and crease. Unfold completely to see the cross shape made by the vertical and horizontal creases in your paper. 

03. FOLD DIAGONALLY

Fold and crease your paper diagonally by folding opposite corners together. Unfold, then bring the other two corners together to create your fourth fold and crease. Unfold completely to see the X made by the two diagonal creases. All four creases now intersect into a center point. 

04. FOLD CORNERS 

Fold each of the four corners of your paper into the center point, creating a smaller square. Flip your paper over.  

05. FOLD CORNERS AGAIN

Fold each corner of your smaller square into the center point of your paper creating strong creases. Flip your paper over again.

06. OPEN POCKETS

Open the four pockets of your paper by pinching the corners of your fortune teller. Once all of the pockets are open, put your left pointer finger and thumb into two pockets, and then your right pointer finger and thumb into the other two pockets. Move your fingers to open and close your fortune teller. 

07. DESIGN YOUR FORTUNE TELLER

Begin by writing the name of a color on each of the four exterior pocket flaps, or coloring that flap the four colors of your choice. Next, open the fortune teller by unfolding the first four corners back out. Towards your colors, there should be two blank spaces near each exposed corner. Write the numbers 1 through 8 clockwise around each space. Flip your paper over. Under each of the numbers, write a message or fortune for the new year.

08. USE YOUR FORTUNE TELLER

To use the fortune teller, fold your paper back into the fortune teller shape and insert your fingers. Ask a friend or family member to choose one of the four colors. Open the fortune teller, alternating between opening the fortune teller from up and down to left and right for each of the letters as you spell out the chosen color. Next, ask your friend or family member to choose one of the four displayed numbers. Repeat opening the fortune teller the number of times corresponding to the number chosen. When you are done counting, ask your friend to choose a new number. Lift the flap to show the fortune under the selected number. Read the fortune out loud.

About Virtual Open Studios

CAMH’s Virtual Open Studios feature instructions for pop-up activities that draw inspiration from the exhibitions on view. Using readily available materials you can find at home, explore imaginative concepts inspired by world-renowned artists who show at the Museum by making your own artworks in response to theirs. Virtual Open Studios are released on our website at 2PM, the first Saturday of every month. All ages, always free.