Cricut Picture Frame for Father’s Day

Tell Dad he “rocks” with this easy Cricut Picture Frame for Father’s Day.

Image of a picture frame covered in small rocks sitting on a desk top. The frame contains the phrase Dad You're Our Rock Star!

My Cricut has been a game-changer. I love how quickly I can put together a gift or craft and this Cricut picture frame for Father’s Day is no exception.

Rock art has been popular in recent years, but for this project I wanted something a little more traditional. You can get bags of rocks at the dollar store or the craft store, but if you want to keep the kids busy for an hour send them outside to collect some.

What I love about this project is how inexpensive it is and how easily it can be put together – so it’s the perfect last-minute Father’s Day craft. If you’re ready to get started, read on.

Materials Needed

Photo frame (grey or painted charcoal with chalky paint); 3” x 5” with wide wood frame or similar size
Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy
Standard grip mat
Cricut Premium Vinyl, Removable (Light Gray from Vibrant Value Pack)
Cricut’s Hostess with the Mostess Winter Sparkle Deluxe Paper, 1 sheet
Cricut Transfer Tape
Rock’n SVG cut file OR PDF file
Small Pebbles
Hot glue gun with clear craft glue

Preparing the Frame

Disassemble the photo frame, removing the glass, which can be carefully discarded. If needed, paint the frame with 1-2 coats of relic (charcoal) chalky paint. Set aside to dry.
Once dry, heat a hot glue gun with clear glue sticks.
Starting in one corner of the picture frame, apply a dab of hot glue. Working quickly and carefully, press one small pebble into the glue.
Continue covering the surface of the frame with pebbles until finished.

Image contains a close up of small rocks hot glued to a gray painted picture frame.

Uploading the SVG Pattern

Upload Rock’n SVG cut file into Design Space.

Screenshot of the Cricut Design Space with several Father's Day designs. — Click Ungroup.

Screenshot of the Cricut Design Space with several Father's Day designs - and "Dad, You're Our Rock Star" selected. — Click and drag over each of the phrases separately. With the phrase highlighted, click on the “Weld” button”. Repeat for all phrases.

Screenshot of the Cricut Design Space with the phrase "Dad You're Our Rock Star resized to fit inside the frame once cut. — Adjust phrase sizes to fit inside the picture frame accordingly.

Screenshot of the Cricut Design Space with Father's Day design and a square shape that will act as the photo frame backing. — Insert one square shape onto the Design Space canvas to create the photo frame backing. Size the square to match the size of the picture frame, in our case it was 3.5” wide x 5” high.

Screenshot of the Cricut Design Space with Father's Day design and a square shape that will act as the photo frame backing. Use the color sync tab to assign colors to the images for different material types: Premium Vinyl and Cardstock (Deluxe Paper). — Use the color sync tab to assign colors to the images for different material types: Premium Vinyl and Cardstock (Deluxe Paper).

Cutting

Select “Make It” in Design Space.
For the vinyl phrases, set the material type to Premium Vinyl. Follow prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Premium Vinyl. When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.
Remove the Premium Vinyl from the mat.
For the paper photo frame backing, set the material type to cardstock, medium weight. Follow prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Deluxe Paper. When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.
Remove the Deluxe Paper from the mat.

Cricut Design Space - ready to cut — Select the Green button to cut.

How to Assemble the Frame

Place the glass from the photo frame on a flat surface.
Cut around the vinyl cut phrase with a pair of scissors.
Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut phrase and discard.
Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the phrase. Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop of the cut phrase. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.
Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the phrase adhered to the transfer tape.
Position the phrase with the transfer tape on to the glass and press in place.
Press the vinyl phrase down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the glass surface.
Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl phrase on the glass. Place the glass back into the pebble picture frame.
Place the blue cardstock paper mat into the frame against the glass. Reassemble the backing into the frame.