How to Make a Cootie Catcher: Step-by-Step Guide

Are you looking for an entertaining way to spend your free time? Look no further than making a cootie catcher, a classic game loved by children and adults alike! Making your own cootie catcher is an exciting and easy activity that requires only basic materials and some creativity. So, let’s dive in and start making one step-by-step!

To start, you will need a square piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Fold the paper in half diagonally, crease it well, and unfold it. Repeat this step by folding the paper in half diagonally the other way, creasing it well and unfolding it. Take one of the corners of the paper and fold it towards the center of the paper, creasing it well. Repeat this step with the remaining three corners, folding them towards the center of the paper and creasing them well. Once you have finished folding all the corners, flip the paper over and fold each corner towards the center again, creasing each fold well. You have now made the base of your cootie catcher!

Introduction:
In the era of smartphones and iPads, sometimes it’s nice to embrace a little bit of old school fun. One of the classic retro playground games that nearly everyone has played before is a Cootie Catcher! It’s a little triangular piece of paper that is folded and can be used to play games or tell fortunes. This step by step guide will walk you through the process of making a Cootie Catcher and all the fun that comes with it.

1. Materials:
Before we dive into the instructions, let’s gather the materials. You will need a square piece of paper, a pen or pencil, and some creativity.

2. Prepare the Paper:
Start with your square piece of paper. If your paper is not already a square shape, take one corner and fold it diagonally across to create a triangle. Cut off the excess paper and unfold. There you have a square piece of paper.

3. Fold in Half:
Fold your square piece of paper in half, making a crease down the center, and unfold.

4. Fold Diagonally:
Fold your square piece of paper diagonally across both ways, creasing each time, so you end up with two diagonal lines running down the center of the square.

5. Fold Corners:
Grab each corner of the square paper and fold it into the center of the paper, so it forms a smaller square.

6. Flip Paper Over:
Flip the paper over onto its other side.

7. Again, Fold Corners:
Grab each corner of the square paper and fold it into the center once more, again forming a smaller square. Flip the paper over once more onto its original side.

8. Number the Folds:
Label numbers one through eight on the outside flaps of the squares in order of how they appear. Then, flip the Cootie Catcher over and on the other side, write a different set of numbers for the inside flaps.

9. Add the Fortunes:
On the inside flaps of your cootie catcher, write different fortunes, options, or games to play. Be as creative and unique as you want. Some classic fortunes are, “You will marry someone handsome or beautiful,” or “You will have many children.”

10. How to Use:
Now that you have created your Cootie Catcher, how do you play? Two people can participate in this game. Start by having the person who made the Cootie Catcher hold it open and ask the other person to choose a number from the outside flaps. The person will then manipulate the catcher back and forth, that number of times, while repeating the choices available for that number. Then, have the person pick another number from the inside numbers, and then the fortune or game inside will be revealed.

In conclusion, making a Cootie Catcher is an enjoyable and easy way to bring some retro fun back into your day. Just follow the steps above and let your imagination run wild with the fortunes or games you write for the inside flaps. Enjoy making and playing your very own Cootie Catcher.

Section 2: Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Cootie Catcher

Cootie catchers may look complicated, but they are actually very easy to make. You only need a sheet of paper and a few minutes of your time. Follow the step-by-step guide below, and you’ll have a cootie catcher in no time.

Step 1: Choose the Paper

You can use any paper that you have on hand to make a cootie catcher, but origami paper is ideal because it is thin and easy to fold. If you don’t have origami paper, printer paper or construction paper will work just fine.

Step 2: Fold the Paper

Fold the paper in half diagonally to form a triangle. Make sure the edges of the paper are aligned before you make the crease. Then, unfold the paper to reveal the folded triangle.

Step 3: Fold Again

Fold the paper in half diagonally once more to form a smaller triangle. Again, make sure the edges of the paper are aligned before you make the crease. Then, unfold the paper to reveal a cross-shaped fold.

Step 4: Fold the Corners

Fold each corner of the paper towards the center of the square. The corners should meet at the center of the paper to form a smaller square.

Step 5: Flip the Paper Over

Flip the paper over so that the folded edges are facing down. Then, fold each corner of the paper towards the center of the square once more.

Step 6: Add Numbers or Colors

Write numbers or colors on the outside of each triangle, depending on the type of cootie catcher you want to make. You can also add fortunes or questions on the inside of each flap.

Step 7: Fold the Cootie Catcher

Fold the cootie catcher in half horizontally and then vertically. You should have a small square with flaps on both sides.

Step 8: Insert Your Fingers

Insert your fingers into the flaps of the cootie catcher. You should be able to move the cootie catcher by opening and closing the flaps with your fingers.

Step 9: Play with Friends

Invite your friends to play with you and see who can correctly answer the question or fortune inside the cootie catcher.

Step 10: Customize Your Cootie Catcher

Customize your cootie catcher by using different colors or adding your own questions or fortunes. You can also decorate the cootie catcher with stickers or markers to make it unique.

In conclusion, making a cootie catcher is not only easy and fun, but also a great way to spend time with friends. Follow these simple steps and create your unique cootie catcher today!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Cootie Catcher

Now that you have all the materials ready, let’s jump into the fun project of making a cootie catcher.

1. Fold the Paper

Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally, making a crease in the middle, and then fold it again in the other diagonal direction.

2. Fold the Corners

Unfold the paper, and you will have four creases that intersect at the center of the paper. Fold each corner toward the center, and press the creases well. You now have a smaller square with creases on both diagonals and a horizontal and vertical crease in the middle.

Picture Step 1	Picture Step 2

3. Fold the Cootie Catcher

Take the paper and fold it in half, creasing along the horizontal fold, and then open it back. Fold it in half again in the other direction, and open it again. Push the corners of the paper inward so that it collapses toward the center, forming a smaller square.

4. Label the Cootie Catcher

Label the eight smaller squares created after the second folding with numbers from one to eight, or you can use colors or anything else you like. Open up the folds, and write one fortune or answer per panel.

5. Play with the Cootie Catcher

To play with the cootie catcher, ask your friends to pick a color or number, then open and close the folded paper as you spell out the word. Have them pick one number from the visible panel and open it to reveal their fortune or answer.

Congratulations on making your cootie catcher, and have fun playing with it with your family and friends!

That’s it, you’ve got your very own cootie catcher!

We hope you enjoyed making and playing with your cootie catcher. If you have any little brothers or sisters, they would probably love to learn how to make one too! Thank you so much for reading and we hope to see you again soon on our DIY adventure. Happy crafting!