DIY Back to School Photo Props with Free Cricut SVGs

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ByKelsey

Looking for a creative way to celebrate the first day of school? These DIY Back to School Photo Props and Photo Booth Frame are the perfect solution! With a free set of SVG files and step-by-step instructions, you can craft a custom photo frame that turns your school photos into keepsakes. Whether you’re using a Cricut Maker, Explore, or Joy, this project is beginner-friendly, budget-friendly, and absolutely adorable.

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This project includes fun designs like a pencil, paperclip, ABCs, and a layered composition book pattern. The final frame size depends on your poster board, but the SVGs are easily adjustable to fit your needs. Everything you need, including tools, materials, and downloads, is linked below.

Materials You’ll Need

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  • Cricut machine (Maker, Explore, or Joy)
  • StandardGrip or LightGrip mat
  • Cardstock in various colors – I used 65 lb and 85 lb
  • Poster board (any color you prefer) – I went with the foam board in black from my local Dollar Tree
  • Craft glue or glue stick
  • Scissors or precision craft knife (like an X-ACTO)
  • Brayer tool (optional, but helpful)

Step-by-Step: DIY Back to School Photo Props

Follow this easy guide to assemble your first day of school photo frame with your Cricut machine.

Step 1: Create the Poster Template in Design Space

Cricut Design Space canvas with a large rectangle (20 in x 29.75 in) selected, containing a smaller pink guide square in the center. The right panel shows 'Subtract' under the Layers panel, and the canvas grid is visible with rulers at the top and left.
  1. Open Cricut Design Space and insert two squares.
  2. Resize the base square to match your poster board (ex: 20″ x 29.75″).
  3. Add a second square to represent the photo cutout. Size it about 15.5″ x 17″.
  4. Center it horizontally and place it slightly higher, like a Polaroid frame.
  5. Use “Combine” → “Subtract” to cut out the center.
  6. Change the cut to a “Guide” or leave it as a basic cut for visualization.

Step 2: Upload the Free SVG Files

Upload the four included SVG elements:

  • Composition book pattern
  • Pencil
  • Paperclip
  • ABCs
Cricut Design Space canvas showing a back-to-school photo prop frame with a black and white composition book pattern. The frame is decorated with 'ABC' letters, a pencil graphic, a paperclip, and red text reading 'Elliott's First Day of First Grade 2025.' The right panel lists the layers including text, pencil, ABC, paperclip, and multiple composition book pieces.

Place and resize each element however you’d like on your frame.

Step 3: Arrange the Composition Book Background

  1. Ungroup the SVG pattern.
  2. Duplicate larger shapes and scatter them across the board.
  3. Focus on covering all areas—don’t slice or overthink placement.
  4. Leave some extra pieces to trim and fill any gaps later.

Beginner tip: You’ll hand-cut any overlap with Scissors or an X-ACTO knife, so you don’t need perfect alignment.

Step 4: Customize Your Props

  1. Resize the paperclip, pencil, and ABCs to your liking.
  2. Optional: personalize with your child’s name, grade, or year.
  3. Use a bold font like Blockland (from Creative Fabrica).

Step 5: Cut and Assemble

Cutting a black foam board with a craft knife while holding it steady by hand, with colorful paper letters and white cut-out shapes scattered in the background on a white surface.
  1. Cut each piece on your Cricut machine.
    • Use Medium Cardstock setting.
    • Make sure designs fit on 8.5″ x 11″ or 12″ x 12″ paper, depending on your mat.
  2. Hand-cut the photo window out of the poster board using your template.
  3. Glue on the composition book pieces first, trimming any excess.
  4. Assemble the pencil from tip to eraser (use foam tape for depth).
  5. Glue down ABCs, name, and any other extras.
Hands arranging white cut-out shapes onto a black foam board, with colorful paper letters and scattered cut-outs on the table, while a bottle of craft glue rests nearby.
Hands holding a red craft knife while working on a large black foam board decorated with white cut-out shapes, with some colorful paper pieces tucked underneath the frame.

Pro tip: Use the paper you cut the name out of as a stencil to perfectly align your letters.

Hands assembling a layered paper pencil cutout by peeling the backing off double-sided adhesive tape, with other craft materials scattered around on a white surface.

Optional Personalization Ideas

This image shows the step of gluing down the red text stencil onto the black-and-white composition notebook-themed frame. The text "Elliott’s First Day of First Grade 2025" is being adhered with craft glue, using a green cutting mat to align the placement. Blue painter's tape helps secure the stencil for accurate positioning. This is a part of the assembly process for the back-to-school photo frame prop.

One of my favorite parts of this project is how customizable it is! You can:

  • Add your child’s name
  • Include the school year (ex: “First Day of Kindergarten 2025”)
  • Create one for each child in different colors
  • Use vinyl instead of cardstock
  • Add teacher names or school mascots
This image shows the final decorative assembly stage of the back-to-school photo frame. The red lettering "Elliott’s First Day of First Grade 2025" has been successfully glued down. A hand is holding a large silver glitter paperclip embellishment, about to attach it to the frame's bottom left corner, while the pencil decoration is already placed in the bottom right corner. The composition notebook-themed background is clearly visible, tying the school theme together.

Tips for Using a Cricut Machine

If you’re new to crafting, here are a few beginner-friendly tips to make this project stress-free:

  • Use LightGrip mats for thinner paper like 65 lb cardstock to avoid tearing.
  • Double-check your cut settings. Medium Cardstock works well for most of the elements.
  • Always test cut one small piece before cutting all your props.
  • Brayer tools help smooth out paper and prevent shifting during cutting.
A black-and-white composition notebook-themed photo frame decorated with colorful cardstock cutouts, including red, blue, and yellow "ABC" letters, a glittery silver paperclip, and a layered paper pencil. The text reads “Elliott’s First Day of First Grade 2025,” making it a back-to-school photo prop.

Make Back-to-School Memories Extra Special

You can find this SVG in a zip file under Design Number #200 in my Community Vault. To gain access, simply sign up for my free newsletter below, you’ll receive the welcome email and password within 5–10 minutes. Search instructions and download tips are included inside the vault.

This layered ghost file is ready to cut with Cricut or Silhouette and includes commercial use rights for small businesses!

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