For the past few years, I’ve had a few friends with young children who were living in Germany. Around the start of school time every year as their children began their academic careers, I’d see the kids holding these gigantic paper cones that were almost as big as they were. Of course, I had questions about what the heck that was. Turns out Germans (and a few of the surrounding countries) have a charming tradition for the very first day of school with these Schultüte. Schultüte, or school cones, are filled with treats and school supplies to make the start of school sweet for little ones.

Although I don’t intend to make a big deal of giving the kids a first day of school treat, I think these are the perfect wrapping to give them a few little nice school supplies when school starts.

While I mostly stick to the school lists and buy boring stuff for school supplies, I know just how important it is to have those one or two packs of fun pencils or pens and a special decorative highlighter at school. Whimsy is awesome as long we’re still able to buy all our school supplies on budget and stuffing them in a Schultüte will make it clear it’s a treat!

I can’t imagine filling a kid-sized one! Miniature was perfect. Still big enough for pens and pencils and a few other fun things.

Schultüte Cone Materials:

•  12×12 Scrapbook paper
• 12×12 poster board
• 2 sheets tissue paper
• Double stick tape
• Ribbon

Since this is a craft lightning project, it’s super easy and fast to put together. First, tape or glue stick the scrapbook paper to the poster board. This is just to give it a little structure for filling up with treats.

Roll the paper into a cone and put a bead of hot glue on the edge to seal it shut. Don’t overlap the paper too much when you make your cone so you have lots of room for all the things you’re going to put inside!

Cut the corner off the cone. This doesn’t have to be exact; it’s just going to make the cone look prettier when you’re done.

Fold a sheet of tissue paper in half lengthwise. Run a bead of hot glue around the inside of your cone, then press the folded edge of the tissue paper into the glue. Overlap the ends of the tissue paper inside the cone.

Fill your cone full of fun school supplies, gather the tissue and tie it off with a bow! In less than 5 minutes, you have a perfect back to school treat and a fun cultural lesson all in one.

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