How to project: A MapLove Decision Maker

Learn how to make a MapLove decision maker and celebrate The Travelling Bookbinder’s new e-course. All you need to help you make choices is one square of paper! This origami form may bring back memories as you fold….

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker

You’ll need:

  • A square of paper, around 15 cm x 15 cm or 6 inches x 6 inches.
  • A bone folder, for neat creases (Optional.)
  • Spare ephemera to cut up.
  • Scissors or scalpel.
  • A glue stick.
  • A writing pen, or pencil.

Instructions:

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Start map side down

Starting map-side face down.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Fold diagonally

Fold the square diagonally, from corner point to corner point. South to North.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: And diagonally again

Open out and repeat with the other corners. East to West.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Fold corners to centre

With the map side still facing down, fold a corner in to the centre.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Second corner to centre

And the second.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Third corner to centre

And the third.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: All corners to centre

All four corners folded in!

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Turn over and corners in

Flip the whole thing over, and fold a corner into the centre again.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Second corner in

And the second.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Third corner in

And the third.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: All corners in to centre

And the fourth.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Place fingers and thumbs under the four squares

Lightly emphasise the creases dividing the straight sides in half, with gentle valley folds, then turn over, and slip a finger underneath one of the squares.

And a thumb under the one next to it.

Pinch them together.

Repeat with the other two squares.

Practice opening and closing it in opposite directions.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Add points of the compass

Now for the creative part: Mark each of the outer squares with North, South, East and West.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Glue stick

I wrote the letters on scrap paper and then glued them in place.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Weather conditions

Next, on the eight inner triangles, add types of weather or temperature – for example: Wind, Sun, Snow, Dry, Cold etc.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Second layer done

(I’ve numbered them too.)

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Activities

Then open up each flap so that you can write the final destination or activity. I’ve chosen activities that correspond to the climate conditions, such as walking when it’s dry, or writing when the rain is pouring.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Activities glued in place

Of course you could illustrate or embellish each word instead.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to project: MapLove Decision Maker: Choose point of the compass

Now put your decision maker into action: Choose a point on the compass, and spell out each letter – so West is W, E, S, T, which means four opening and closings of the decision maker.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to project: MapLove Decision Maker: Choosing

Then decide on the weather condition. I’ll choose ‘cold’ so i’ll spell out C, O, L, D as the decision maker opens and closes. Then pick a number and look under the triangle to reveal the designated activity. Simple.

P.S. Why stop at one? Create a different one for each area of life! Collections of multiples look wonderful.

In some places, decision makers or fortune tellers are also known as cootie catchers – what do you call them?!

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to make: A MapLove Descision Maker: Finished!

If you’d like to experiment with more making with maps, the MapLove e-course is open for bookings!

8 thoughts on “How to project: A MapLove Decision Maker

  1. I love this! We used to make these when I was a kid. First we called them “cootie catchers” then “fortune tellers.” But I love your spin on it. Thank you!

  2. While we call it the cootie catcher or fortune teller, this is actually an very old traditional Japanese origami fold known as a “salt celler” which was used “upside down” to hold salt or other spices at the table. Old meets new!!!

    1. Oh MaryAnn that’s brilliant – thank you for the info…makes perfect sense *goes to put salt in her maplove decision maker…*

  3. And I have long wondered whether this much-loved object may have inspired Hedi Kyle’s delicious blizzard book…

  4. Oh Rachel! I can’t wait to make one of these using your take on it! I love maps and fortune tellers. I am always looking for exciting ways to spark a creative session when I feel stuck. Enter “fortune teller map” a la Rachel. 🙂
    What a delightful share! Thank you so much …. and Happy March and Happy World Day!
    Cheers from still very wintry Alberta, Canada!

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