Last year, I sent in a Valentine’s card with my then 8-year-old that was a hit with his classmates—a Cootie Catcher! It was so nicely done that some mothers assumed I’d bought it until they noticed the picture of my son inside the catcher and then they were really impressed. It doesn’t take a lot of time to set up, but it’s got a lot of Wow Factor.
Let me walk you through it...
1) Set up an 8”x8” custom project in SBC+. Insert an Empty Frame [Mac: Insert a rectangle]. Right click on it and go to Properties and set it up to so that the left and top are at 0 and 0 and make it 2” square [Mac: Use the Metrics tab in Inspector and set Top to 8”, Left to 0”]. Then make 15 copies of this square, laying them out so that they’re evenly across the page like this.
2) Fill each square with a paper of your choice. For mine, I used the Loveable Digital Kit PC Mac. I made the center four squares something pretty basic so that words can be read on it. I used four contrasting papers for the corners, since that’s what they’ll see first. And I made the middle edges the same paper, though you don’t have to.
3) Now, to add our text. Come up with cute age appropriate little sayings for the inside (or copy mine). Place them around as I’ve shown them here. Put cute graphics on the outside corners. Here I put different quantities of shapes on each corner, but you can put different colors, whatever you like that will let children play the game. Then put numbers 1-8 in the angles as shown on the inside edges. (Do put them at the corners as I’ve shown so that they will be visible when the project is folded). You’re ready now to print your creation. Print a test page in B+W to make sure everything looks OK before doing your high-quality color print.
4) Once printed, trim your project with your 12” Rotary Trimmer to trim it to exactly 8”x8”. Now, fold it in half on the diagonal, white side up. Unfold and then fold it on the diagonal in the opposite direction. You now have a square with an X folded into it.
5) Again, with the white side up, fold the corners of the square toward the center. When all of the corners are folded, your paper should look like a smaller square.
6) Turn your paper over so that the folded sides face down, then fold the corners of the square toward the center again. When the four corners are folded, your paper should be an even smaller square, composed of triangles.
7) Now fold the square vertically, crease it, and open it back up. Fold it horizontally, crease it, and open it back up again. The hearts on the corners should be facing you.
Playing instructions
Find a friend who wants their fortune told. Choose one of the outside corners, count the number of hearts there are, then open and close the cootie catcher (up and down and side to side), moving once for each letter number of hearts. Then have your friend choose a number from the inner triangles. Move the cootie catcher open and closed that many times. Then have your friend select one more number from the inner triangles. Lift up the corresponding flap and read the fortune inside.
Thanks for the feedback, Ramona! So pleasant to hear that the Valentine's went over well. Yes, making that takes a while! ::rubs aching fingers::
Posted by: Leslie | 02/16/2012 at 06:24 AM
These were great! We used pictures for the main outside corners to make extra special cootie catchers for dad! Both kindergarten and 3rd grade friends loved them! Just plan ahead - if you'll need to fold 50 :-)
Posted by: ramona schreiber | 02/16/2012 at 05:55 AM
This is great and easy to do! Thanks for posting studio directions. My daughter is so excited to take her "fortune telling" Valentines into school on Tuesday!
Posted by: Amy | 02/12/2012 at 11:48 AM
gValentine's Day has remained a celebration of lovers and friendship. From history, the myth became a legend and the legend was transformed into a tradition.
Posted by: valentine Ecard messages | 02/03/2012 at 01:50 AM
How cool is this? Thanks Leslie!!!
Posted by: Valerie | 02/02/2012 at 09:38 PM
Yep... This is what my kiddo is doing for Valentines day too... What a cute idea and much more personal than the Valentines you buy in the store!
Yeah!
Posted by: Crissi Klein | 02/02/2012 at 07:42 AM
Ooooh...I've just changed my mind as to what my son is taking to school for Valenines Day! Thanks for the SUPER idea!
Posted by: Noreen Smith | 02/02/2012 at 12:38 AM
This is great Leslie!! I'm going to keep this idea in mind for the next time I have a house full of tweens. I'll call them over to the computer and let them customize the "template". I think they'll get a kick out of decorating them. Plus they can play with it afterwards! Win win all around. Oh, and thanks for the Studio directions too. Always nice to have them.
Posted by: Kimberly | 02/01/2012 at 08:59 PM
How cute is this? Awesome!!!
Posted by: Lori B | 02/01/2012 at 11:23 AM
I love this alternative to candy valentines!! We often make ours but the plain handmade ones never get much attention. Thanks for adding a wow to our Valentine's Day project.
Posted by: Rebecca | 02/01/2012 at 10:59 AM
Too Cute! I like the fact that it is 3D instead of the standard flat valentines. Thanks!
Posted by: Stella | 02/01/2012 at 08:32 AM
My girls love cootie catchers! While they are too old for valentines cards they will surely have fun making this just because. Thanks!!
Posted by: Jessica | 02/01/2012 at 07:58 AM
What a cute idea. I haven't played with a "Cootie Catcher" in years. This brings back a bunch of fun memories. Thank for a trip down memory lane.
Posted by: Carol Cornwell | 02/01/2012 at 07:50 AM