Handmade omikuji ideas: DIY crafts you can make and play with
Many people visit shrines to pray and draw omikuji during major events like New Year’s and entrance exams, don’t they?
It can be a bit worrying if you get a bad fortune, but the excitement of not knowing what you’ll get is fun, isn’t it?
This article introduces ideas for making your own omikuji.
With origami or recycled materials, you might be surprised at how easy they are to make.
Since most designs are simple, they’re great for crafts with children.
Give it a try as a little New Year’s entertainment!
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Handmade omikuji ideas: DIY crafts you can make and play with (11–20)
Potato Fortune
Hit the jackpot if you pull a ketchup-coated one! This potato fortune-draw is perfect for deciding turn order in games.
The “potatoes” are made from, believe it or not, puzzle mats.
Cut a puzzle mat into suitable sizes, wrap them with double-sided fabric tape, and stick on felt.
For a few winning pieces, add red felt to the tip or color them with a pen.
Arrange the potatoes in a container deep enough to fully hide the ketchup part, and you’re done.
They look super cute, so when not in use, it’s also a great idea to display them in the kids’ room!
A Happy New Year Omikuji-chan in a plastic bottle
By turning the omikuji box into a doll, it might heighten the excitement of drawing a fortune.
It’s a simple project that uses a plastic bottle as the base and adds decorations like a face and clothing.
As long as you create the minimal structure—placing fortune-telling chopsticks with fortunes written on them inside the bottle and attaching a lid that lets you pull out just one stick—you can enjoy designing the rest freely.
You could draw your own clothing designs on plain origami paper, or use Japanese-patterned origami to create a kimono-like feel, which is highly recommended.
Since you shake the box to draw the omikuji, it’s also important to glue everything on firmly so it doesn’t fall apart.
Fortune-telling with disposable chopsticks and cardboard
This is a simple omikuji you can make with cardboard and wooden chopsticks.
Cut the cardboard into pieces for the bottom, lid, and sides of a hexagonal prism, and assemble each part.
If you lightly score the fold lines with a utility knife, it will come out neat.
Once the box is finished, attach slips of paper with fortunes written on them to the chopsticks, set them inside the box, and you’re done! Even if you’re not good at drawing plans, you can easily make it by using free downloadable templates—give it a try!
Fortune-telling made with a paper cup and straw
A fun craft to do with kids is a fortune-drawing toy made from a paper cup and a straw.
Since all you need are a paper cup and a straw, it’s easy to try.
The structure is simple, too: combine paper cups to make a tube, then insert a straw into it.
Use a pen to write results like “good luck” or “bad luck” on the straw.
If you change the words, you can also use it to assign teams for games or decide cleaning duties.
You can even decorate the paper cups to your liking for extra fun.
micro:bit fortune lottery
Some of you might draw an omikuji (fortune slip) at New Year’s for good luck.
The classic style is to visit a shrine for your first prayer of the year and draw an omikuji there to divine your luck for the year—but how about making a slightly unusual omikuji of your own? This one uses a servo motor, almost like an electronics project.
Since it runs with programming, you’ll end up with a unique omikuji unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere.
Prepare a micro:bit, a motor, batteries, and wiring, then do the programming.
Write “Great Blessing,” “Middle Blessing,” “Small Blessing,” etc.
on construction paper, make an arrow, and connect everything—and you’re done.
It’s a fun omikuji that’s also great for a school science project, so why not give it a try?
Omikuji Gacha
It’s a milk carton fortune-telling gacha that’s irresistible for the excitement when you turn the handle.
Open up a milk carton and cut off the spout, then cut out the handle, window, and the part that will be the capsule exit.
Attach a clear file sheet or plastic board to the inside of the window.
Add an internal mechanism so the capsules come out smoothly, reassemble the milk carton, and insert a toilet paper roll to serve as the handle—your gacha is complete! After that, just load it with capsules containing fortunes.
Finally, decorate the outside freely with paper and pens.
Handmade omikuji ideas: DIY crafts you can make and play with (21–30)
Tetra goldfish
Let’s make a cute, pop 3D goldfish fortune slip (omikuji)! You can easily create it using two sheets of origami cut to quarter size.
Use one sheet for the goldfish’s head and the other for the tail fin.
Before attaching the head and tail together, tuck the fortune inside the head! Adding googly eyes at the end makes it extra adorable.
It looks stylish not only with plain origami, but also with patterned paper like polka dots or stripes.
When using it for a raffle or drawing, it could be fun to use a scooper (poi) made from thick paper, too.
