EASY · TRADITIONAL MODEL
Salt cellar
A traditional model, also called a cootie catcher or fortune teller. Mark both diagonals, bring the four corners to the centre, fold the four new corners back to the centre and fold in half. All you need is a square sheet; no scissors.
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You can read every step here. The step-by-step guide for this model, with play, pause and a replay of every fold, is in the Foldstep app for your phone, tablet, TV or computer. Included in the Party Pack and in Foldstep Complete.
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The steps, in words
Get your paper ready.
Place a square sheet with one side parallel to the edge of the table. If it has a coloured side, keep it face down.
Use paper that holds a crease well: it gets folded many times.
Fold the square along one diagonal.
Bring the top right corner onto the bottom left one. The crease runs from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
Line up the corners and edges before pressing.
Unfold.
Open it again. A mark is left from corner to corner: it is the guide for finding the centre.
Run a fingernail along the mark so it shows clearly.
Fold the square along the other diagonal.
Bring the top left corner onto the bottom right one. The crease runs from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. In the drawing, the first mark fades while the paper is folded.
It is the same fold as before, the other way round.
Unfold.
Open it again. The two marks cross at the centre of the paper.
The point where they cross is the one you will use in the next steps.
Bring the top left corner to the centre.
Fold the top left corner until it touches the point where the marks cross. The crease joins the midpoint of the top edge to the midpoint of the left edge.
Take your time: the corner has to land exactly on the centre.
Bring the top right corner to the centre.
Fold the top right corner to the centre. The crease joins the midpoint of the top edge to the midpoint of the right edge.
The tips of the corners will meet at the centre.
Bring the bottom right corner to the centre.
Fold the bottom right corner to the centre. The crease joins the midpoint of the right edge to the midpoint of the bottom edge.
Press each crease before moving on to the next.
Bring the bottom left corner to the centre.
Fold the last corner, the bottom left one, to the centre. You are left with a smaller square, resting like a diamond, with all four tips meeting at the centre.
Check that the edges of the flaps meet without gaps.
Fold the top point back to the centre.
Fold the top point of the small square backwards, through all the layers, to the centre. It is a mountain fold: the paper moves away from you. Many versions turn the paper over and fold forwards; here you do not need to turn it over.
With all the layers together, the crease comes out clean.
Fold the right point back to the centre.
Fold the right point backwards, through all the layers, to the centre. It is another mountain fold.
The crease runs between the midpoints of the two edges of that point.
Fold the bottom point back to the centre.
Fold the bottom point backwards to the centre, through all the layers.
Make sure the point does not go past the centre.
Fold the left point back to the centre.
Fold the last point, the left one, backwards. You are left with an even smaller square, with its edges parallel to the table.
Run a finger along all the edges so the creases hold firm.
Fold the square in half.
Bring the left edge onto the right edge, through all the layers. The crease runs vertically, down the middle. It is a valley fold, towards you.
Line up the top and bottom edges before pressing.
Open the salt cellar with your fingers.
The four flaps you folded back are now on the outside. Slip the thumb and forefinger of each hand under those flaps, one finger in each, and push towards the centre. The four points come together and form the mouth.
Push gently and with pairs of fingers, so the paper does not tear.
Your salt cellar is ready.
The drawing shows the salt cellar open, seen from above: the four points come together in the centre and leave the mouth open.
You can write under each flap, or play with it by opening and closing it.