Immortalize those first day of school photos with these three school-themed frames, cut on your Cricut! These back to school frames are perfect for scrapbooks, teacher projects, refrigerators and more!

A pair of scissors, two pencils and three pictures encased in school themed frames

It may still be the middle of summer, but I know there are parents out there just waiting for the day their kiddos head back to school! Today I’m partnering with my favorite craft store JOANN to bring you these adorable first day of school frames, using my Wild Rose Cricut Explore Air 2! This gorgeous Cricut is exclusive to JOANN stores. Read about why I love it here!

Seeing photos of kids on their first day of school is literally one of my favorite things on the entire internet. I love seeing their fresh faces, ready to learn (or, sometimes, pouty faces, not ready to leave summer behind!). These back to school frames are designed so that you can get those photos off the internet and into your real life!

I mean, seriously.

These frames are perfect for scrapbook pages, for hanging on the refrigerator, and are the perfect back to school idea for teachers looking for a craft to make with their students. You can pick up all the supplies you need in store at your local JOANN or in their online marketplace!

Three pictures encased in school themed frames

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Table of Contents

Back to School Frames: Supplies

Cricut Explore or Maker
Various colors of cardstock—feel free to mix and match based on your preferences!
Black and white iron on vinyl (see note in tutorial below)
Xyron Creative Station or Spray Adhesive
Brayer (optional)
Cricut EasyPress or household iron
Adorable photos of your children
Back to School Frame Cut Files (see below)

Get the Free Back to School Cut Files under SVGs C211

This file can be found in my Free Craft Resource Library. The file number is: C211.

Want access to this free file? Join my FREE resource library! All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below!

Back to School Frames: Cricut Design Space + Cutting

Start by uploading the downloaded SVG file to Cricut Design Space. If you need help uploading your file, see this post. I’ve included a separate file for each grade, preschool through 8th!

For the text (both the word SCHOOL on the bus and the grade levels, you can choose whether you want to cut these out of cardstock like the rest of the project, or if you want to use iron on vinyl. I find that smaller pieces like this are so much easier to cut with iron on vs. trying to piece in cardstock.

Once you have all of your pieces cut, it’s time to assemble your frames! The bottom piece for each frame is cut in black—you can piece the rest of your frame, including the photo of your child, on top of that bottom piece. Save the cutouts in the middle of the apple, bus, and pencil to help you cut your school photos to the correct size.

Back to School Frames: Cricut Design Space

All of the pieces cut out before assembly

I like using my Xyron Creative Station—it’s basically a sticker maker! You can run all of the pieces through and it will add an adhesive layer to the back.

Using the Xyron to assemble the back to school frames

Using the Xyron for the back to school frames

I also have the mini version of the Xyron Sticker Maker for the smaller pieces.

Using the mini Xyron for the smallest pieces

Once you’ve run your cardstock pieces through the Xyron, rub the plastic coating on top—this helps keep it from “webbing” (you’ll know it when you see it!). I also find that my brayer does a great job of helping the webbing problem.

Use the brayer to help the "webbing" problem

Once you have all of your stickers made, it’s time to assemble! Carefully peel the largest piece (the bus, pencil, and apple) and place your photo behind the frame. Then place onto the bottom gray piece. Then add all of the decorative pieces.

For the text, I am using my Cricut EasyPress, though an iron works as well. Carefully lay your weeded iron on vinyl onto your project. I set my EasyPress at 290° and tried not to get the actual photo under the heat plate. 20 seconds is usually enough to get it to adhere to cardstock. If you’re having trouble getting it to adhere, try pressing from the back.

Once you’ve adhered your iron on vinyl pieces, you’re done! This is a fun back to school project that’s made easy with your Cricut and supplies from JOANN!

Love this Cricut project? Check out my Back to School Memory Book and First Day of School Chalkboard!

Pictures of school themed frames advertised by HEYLETSMAKESTUFF for Back-to-School Frames with the Cricut and free cut files.

Created by: Cori George

Back to School Frames

Keyword Photos, School

Equipment

Supplies

▢ Various colors of cardstock feel free to mix and match based on your preferences!
▢ Black and white iron on vinyl (see note in instructions below)
▢ Adorable photos of your children
▢ Free Back to School Cut Files #C211

Instructions

Start by uploading the downloaded SVG file to Cricut Design Space. If you need help uploading your file, see this post. Included are separate files for each grade, preschool through 8th!
For the text (both the word SCHOOL on the bus and the grade levels, you can choose whether you want to cut these out of cardstock like the rest of the project, or if you want to use iron on vinyl. Smaller pieces like this are so much easier to cut with iron on vs. trying to piece in cardstock.
Once you have all of your pieces cut, it's time to assemble your frames! The bottom piece for each frame is cut in black—you can piece the rest of your frame, including the photo of your child, on top of that bottom piece. Save the cutouts in the middle of the apple, bus, and pencil to help you cut your school photos to the correct size.
Back to School Frames: Cricut Design Space
Use a Xyron Creative Station—it's basically a sticker maker! You can run all of the pieces through and it will add an adhesive layer to the back.
The mini version of the Xyron Sticker Maker was used for the smaller pieces.
Once you've run your cardstock pieces through the Xyron, rub the plastic coating on top—this helps keep it from "webbing" (you'll know it when you see it!). The brayer does a great job of helping the webbing problem.
Once you have all of your stickers made, it's time to assemble! Carefully peel the largest piece (the bus, pencil, and apple) and place your photo behind the frame. Then place onto the bottom gray piece. Then add all of the decorative pieces.
For the text, the Cricut EasyPress is being used, though an iron works as well. Carefully lay your weeded iron on vinyl onto your project. Set the EasyPress at 290° and try not to get the actual photo under the heat plate. 20 seconds is usually enough to get it to adhere to cardstock. If you're having trouble getting it to adhere, try pressing from the back.
Once you've adhered your iron on vinyl pieces, you're done!