How to Make Paper Fortune Cookies

Hiya, Today I have a mini tutorial on how to make paper fortune cookies. I came across these 'cookies' at New Year, and I made a bunch for the family with fun predictions for the year ahead. This week I have used them to fill a basket for a gathering to celebrate the Chinese New Year (pictured here made from gold paper). The cookies could also be used for a Valentine theme, with a more romantic selection of fortune slips.

I used a metal die and a Sizzix manual die cutter. If you don't have a cutter, you could draw around a circular object of similar size and cut out with scissors. Of course, the fortune cookies could be cut with a Silhouette, Circuit, Scan and Cut or similar, and there are designs available in SVG and Studio format from the Silhouette Design Store (#55256, #53238)

You'll need to find some suitable fortune slips. Print them out, and trim them in narrow strips of around 4" in length. A Pinterest or Google search will yield a wealth of free printables or ideas to type your own. I've included a list of my favourites at the end of this post.


Materials Required
Circles cut from light-weight scrapbook paper, or coloured copy weight paper
Selection of fortunes or messages
Liquid glue


STEP 1: Cut a number of 3.5" (9cm circles).

STEP 2: Fold a circle in half and pinch it in the centre. Open it up, rotate it a quarter turn, and fold it in half again, adding a small dot of glue as shown.

STEP 3: Lightly hold the edges together until they have adhered.

STEP 4: Place an index finger in each end, pressing your thumbnails into the centre crease. Fold at the crease and pull the edges down to meet each other. Release the edges.

STEP 5: Slip a fortune slip in past the centre, leaving the last inch peeking out. Add a small dot of glue as shown.

STEP 6: Bring the ends together again holding the sides together where the glue is located. I find this easiest using the thumb and index finger of one hand until the glue has gripped. Trim the end of message if you wish.

On one side the surface is smooth, and on the other it is creased like this.

Make as many as you need and add them to a nice container. I made this one using an SVG cut file from Simply Craft SVGs. Instructions will be published tomorrow and can be found here.

Here are the links to some of my favourite downloadable printed messages/fortunes.

Party Inspiration by Margaret Alba - Valentine Fortune Cookies - messages for friends
SheKnows - Edible fortune Cookies with Positive Chinese New Year messages

Of course, the messages can be adapted for different occasions from birthdays to baby showers. I hope you'll find fun ways to use them.