How to Engrave a Fortune Cookie for a 50th Birthday

Practice on scrap metal.

Predict a happy future for the birthday woman in your life turning 50 with an engraved message on a fortune cookie. Today you can purchase gold, silver and plated fortune cookies at prices--in 2010-- ranging from $5 to more than $1,000. They are sold as place card holders and pendants on necklaces, bracelets and key chains. Carve phrases like, "I love you," "Happy 50th" or "Wishing you joy" on the cookie. With a personal message on it, even a $5 gift can become priceless.

Things You'll Need

• Electric engraver with tip
• Scrap metal
• Computer
• Printer
• Self-adhesive address label
• Water
• Soap
• Rags

Instructions

1. Practice writing on scrap metal with the electric engraver. You only have one chance when you engrave the fortune cookie.

2. Choose a short message to engrave on the fortune cookie; you don't have much space. Tell her what her future will be. Fortune cookie messages are prophesies about the future--for example, "Your life begins @ 50."

3. Type the message into the computer and print it out on an address label. The font and size you use should be easy to read. Put the label on the fortune cookie.

4. Hold the engraver like a pen and turn it on. Place the fortune cookie on a flat surface and hold it with the hand not holding the cookie.

5. Press the tip to the metal and begin slowly tracing the label on the fortune cookie. Start at the top of each letter and pull your hand down. Apply enough pressure that the tip of the engraver cuts through the paper. The straighter you hold the engraver, the clearer your work will be.

6. Wash the dust off of the fortune cookie.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't press hard enough the writing will appear choppy.

References

• Inland: How to Engrave with Engraver and Diamond Tips