Back-to-School Photo Flag DIY

Hi creative friends! I’m Latoya, the creator behind Hanging with the Kiddos. I’m thrilled to be back with another fun and functional back-to-school photo flag DIY —a set of bright and cheerful back-to-school and first-day-of-school flag props!

These easy DIY flags make the perfect photo props for capturing those special back-to-school milestone moments. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or party lover, you’ll love how simple and customizable this back-to-school photo flag DIY project is.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I designed, assembled, and finished my flags using the Back to School Scrap Kit SVGs Clipart & Digital Paper from Printable Cuttable Creatables.

Supplies Used

SVG Files & Digital Paper:

• Back to School Scrap Kit SVGs Clipart & Digital Paper (Printable Cuttable Creatables)

Materials & Tools:

• Hanging with the Kiddos DIY Party Glossy Paper Sheets (8.5″ x 11″)
• Wooden dowels
• Ribbon
• Double-sided tape runner (or hot glue gun)
• Cricut Maker & Cricut Design Space (you can also cut by hand)
• Color printer (for Print Then Cut)

Step 1: Designing the Flag

I started by opening Cricut Design Space and creating my flag base from two simple shapes:

• Red Triangle: I used the “Shapes” tool to draw a triangle and adjusted the size to about 9″ wide by 4.9″ tall. B
• Black Rectangle: Next, I added a rectangle and resized it to 1.2″ wide by 4.9″ tall, aligning it along the short, left edge of the triangle. This “binding” edge is where you’ll attach your dowel and secure the flag.

Then I started decorating the flag: I uploaded my favorite PNG clipart from the Back to School Scrap Kit: the apple, crayon, school bus, and “Back to School” title. I placed and resized each element to fit the triangle.

For a personalized touch, I used the Text tool to add “6th Grade” and the school year (“2025–2026”). I chose a bold, easy-to-read font and used the color picker to match the text with the clipart and background.

I also added one of the kit’s digital papers as the background pattern for my flag.

Once I had all my shapes, clipart, and text in place, I selected everything, grouped together and then hit ‘Flatten’ so Cricut would treat my flag as one printable image.

Step 2: Print Then Cut

Next, I moved on to the Print Then Cut process. Just follow the prompts to print your design and prepare it for cutting!

Step 3: Printer Settings

I printed my flag design onto a sheet of Hanging with the Kiddos DIY Party Glossy Paper using my inkjet printer. For best results, I recommend:

• Paper type: Select “Glossy Photo Paper” in your printer dialog.
• Print quality: Choose “Best” or “High Quality” for vibrant, smudge-free colors.
• Side to print: Be sure to print on the glossy side of the paper.

Step 4: Cutting the Flag 
Next, I placed my printed sheet on a StandardGrip Cricut mat and used my Cricut Maker to cut out the flag shape. (You can also cut by hand if you don’t have a machine.) 
For the cut settings in Design Space:

I selected “Copy Paper” as my material type. 

I set the cutting pressure to “Normal.” 

Step 5: Assembling the Flag 

I added double-sided tape to the back edge of my flag, placed the dowel along the edge, and wrapped the flag around it. This keeps everything smooth and secure! 

Step 6: Final Assembly 

Here’s a look at how I finished the flag—after wrapping and pressing the edge around the dowel, I tied on black ribbon for a festive touch!

Step 7: Finished Flags – Ready for Photos! 

Here’s my finished “Back to School” and “First Day of School” flags—perfect for those milestone photos and classroom celebrations.

 

Tips & Ideas 

Personalize it: Add your child’s name or grade for a custom touch. 

Make it sturdy: Laminate the flag before assembly if you want to reuse it. Teacher gifts: These make adorable gifts for teachers or classroom photo props!

Where to Find the Files 

Everything I used for this project is from the Back to School Scrap Kit SVGs Clipart & Digital Paper by Printable Cuttable Creatables. 

That’s it! I hope this inspires you to get crafty for the new school year.  
Happy Crafting!
—Latoya

Affiliate Disclosure: I may be an affiliate for some products recommended in this post. This means that if you purchase items through my links I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally used and enjoy and when you order through my link, it helps me continue to offer you weekly free SVG files, digital papers, scrapbook sketches, tutorials, and other fun things. Thank you in advance for your support!