Introduction: How to Make a Cootie Catcher

Hello, my name is Rea Bardhi! I am in 11th grade and I go to Sterling Heights Heights High School as well as MMSTC. Oh, and I also like to make crafts!

Ever since first grade, one thing I remember doing throughout elementary school was playing with cootie catchers during recess which we, as the young kids we once were, believed that this paper craft with writing on it magically depicted out fate and future. Even as I get older, I still cherish the memories of playing this game and think it's fun to create them from time to time.

The purpose of this instructable is to provide a step-by-step guide that teaches you how to make a cootie catcher correctly. After doing so, you can play the timeless game yourself.

If you would like to see a demonstration of the game being played in action click here for video instruction.

Step 1: Supplies

You will need:

  • An 8.5 x 11 in. piece of paper
  • Pair of scissors
  • Pencil
  • 4 Different Colored Crayons/ Colored Pencils (some sort of coloring utensil)

Step 2: Prepping the Paper

  1. Fold the piece of paper diagonally so that the corner edge lines up with its opposite edge.
  2. In that position, draw a line using your pencil at the bottom of the paper when the fold meets the edge.
  3. Using the line you drew as a guide, cut the excess paper on the bottom and dispose of it.

Step 3: Making Creases

  1. Crease the paper diagonally opposite from the first fold made.
  2. Crease the paper horizontally where both sides are equal ("hamburger style").
  3. Crease the paper vertically where both both are equal ("hot dog style").
  4. After all the creases are made, flip your paper so it forms a "peak" in the center.

Step 4: First Fold

  1. Using the creases as guides, fold a corner of the paper to the center of the it. Make sure it lines up with the horizontal and vertical creases.
  2. Fold each corner to the center so it makes four isosceles triangles.

Step 5: Second Fold

  1. Flip the paper over so the flaps face the surface.
  2. Bring a corner of the paper to the center of it using the creases as a guide. Make sure the folds line up with the horizonal and vertical creases.
  3. Fold all four corners to the center of the paper to make eight right triangles.

Step 6: Writing the Numbers and Predictions

  1. On each right triangle created, and with a pencil, assign and write in a random number from 1-10 so that they are not in order.
  2. Open each flap and write a "prediction" (which determines something that will happen to a player in the future) or message that a player can get when the game is played on each right triangle. There will be a total of eight predictions.

Step 7: Assigning a Color

  1. After writing the predictions, close the flaps and flip the paper around. You are left with four separate squares
  2. Using colored pencil or any colored utensil, assign each square a different color by coloring it in or simply writing the color's name with the correct utensil.

Step 8: Building the Cootie Catcher

  1. When the coloring is completed, fold the paper in half so the flaps with the colors face the outside.
  2. Grab the base of the cootie catcher which is underneath the colored flaps.
  3. Pinch and push the opposite sides of the base using your thumb and index finger to create a peak on the bottom of the base and make the colored flaps extend outward.
  4. Just like that, you have created a cootie catcher!