It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with taking photos, especially of my kids. When I was growing up, my mom took a ton of photos and had them printed and we have a massive collection of albums from my childhood and teen years. I treasure being able to have something tangible to freeze those memories in time, and every time my mom visits us here, she brings an album or two with her so I can have them. I also cherish being able to look through those photos with Harper. She loves to talk about who’s in the photos and what mommy did as a little girl. It’s just precious!
In the age of digital photos, we may post them online and text them to family and friends, but it’s so rare to capture a special moment and print it on film.
I had the opportunity recently to try out Fujifilm’s INSTAX Mini 70 Instant Camera and at first, it felt a little foreign because I’m so used to shooting a ton of photos on my phone and just deleting the ones that don’t turn out. So it was a fun challenge to take them with a camera that prints on film. Unlike a DSLR, Fujifilm’s INSTAX cameras are small and lightweight so they’re easy to tote wherever you need to go and fit nicely even in a small handbag.
The INSTAX Mini 70 is an updated camera design with improved picture quality (especially in dark scenes) new selfie mode with selfie mirror and a tripod socket.
What’s so fun about the INSTAX camera is that you have printed photos right away that you can use for lots of fun projects. It was a family event to use this camera! Harper loved watching the photo come out of the camera and waiting for the image to appear.
Today I’m sharing some fun ways in which we used our INSTAX photos. There are so many fun ways you can use these photos, these are just a couple ideas!
C O A S T E R S
My friend Lindsey got me these really fun glass coasters for my birthday and I added some of the INSTAX pictures I took to them. Now, my coffee and water tumbler have the best little coasters to rest on at my desk. I used some wrapping paper as a backdrop for the photo to add a fun patterned border.
You could also use these photos to decorate your office or cubicle with fun family memories. If you have a desk calendar, it would be cute to add an INSTAX photo to special dates on your calendar.
D I Y G R E E T I N G C A R D S
When I saw my developed prints, I thought they would make the most precious accents for greeting cards or DIY postcards.
I used the same wrapping paper I used for my coasters and wrapped it around blank greeting cards and secured with glue. Then, I picked my accents- pompom trim, ribbon, colored cardstock and cutouts and decorated we each card.
These would be great options for kids’ birthday parties (birthday cards can cost up to $5 at the store and these can be made with things already in your home and your kids can participate too!) I love that kids can be part of the process of selecting what to shoot and then helping to create the cards. I even made a “grown up” card with some lemons that could be used to wish a friend a happy birthday.
No matter what the occasion, these cards are quick, fun and easy to make!
How would YOU use your INSTAX photos? Leave me a comment for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card.
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So cute! I got this for my 4 year old daughter for a Christmas present- but I got her one of the bright colored ones!
I wish I was creative enough to do something like that. So cute.
That camera looks so fun! I’m planning on getting one for our wedding for guests to take fun pictures with! I love what you did with it!
I would hang them on the refridgerator.
https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/771809467990175744
I would use this to take pictures at my step brother’s wedding!! I love to take pictures!
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/771853247329996800
This blog has become nothing but sponsored content.
My last five posts before this one were not sponsored in any way. Sorry you feel that way! I am proud of my blog and the content I produce.
Ya, if it’s not sponsored then it’s full of affiliate links! It is like reading one giant ad anymore, but that’s how most blogs are now anyway.
Can I ask what you dislike about affiliate links? I think it’s amazing that bloggers have been able to turn their blogs into full time jobs by earning an income through affiliate links and brand partnerships.
Though my blog is personally a hobby, I am proud of all of the women that have turned it into something more. Running a blog full time (posting 5 days a week) is a full time job. A lot of people don’t realize what goes into maintaining a blog— creating new content, photography, editing, writing the posts, responding to collaboration and partnership emails, etc. I get just a small dose of that with my blog being a hobby blog, but bloggers that do it full time are working extremely hard, even though it may not seem like it.
I think it’s refreshing that real women are sharing what they love, their personal style, beauty routines, etc. Blogging and vlogging became popular because I think women got tired of seeing models and actresses in magazines that they couldn’t relate to. Blogging offers women the chance to get style and beauty advice or inspiration from women they can relate to. Women who could be their next door neighbors. If you feel blogs are “one giant ad,” you are entitled to. But blogging is a job just like any other and I respect and am proud of my friends that blog and I’m proud of my own blog and the community around it. I truly share only things I love and/or have purchased myself.
I personally don’t see what the issue is if I (or any other blogger) makes a small commission if someone purchases from my link. It is not costing them anything and I am providing a service. I am providing content that includes information about sizing, what I think about the quality of the item and photos of how it looks on me. If I make $2 if someone buys a shirt, is that really something to be upset about?
Well, since you asked… I started reading blogs years ago, back when they were personal glimpses into blogger’s lives. I so enjoyed that connection and was able to forge friendships with women around the country I otherwise would have never met. It has been a slow transition into (most) bloggers all but losing that genuine feel and just completely reviewing clothing/shoes/makeup products etc. I find it offensive you state you are providing a “service” to your readers. I was capable of shopping for and buying my own clothing items long before your blog, and I can assure you that is not at all why I started reading yours. The mass consumerism is all too much, really. Every time I open a blog or Instagram of a somewhat popular blogger I am bombarded with MUST BUY NOW!!!! items. So while I can appreciate your being proud of yourself and other women who have turned their blog into a career, blogs have lost the personal element that I believe made them so successful in the first place! No hard feelings though, I am sure the monetary gain has been rewarding.
Mary,
Thank you so much for responding, I appreciate that. I agree with you that the blogging landscape has changed a lot. I started blogging 7 years ago (wow!) back when no one was making money. I too value the relationships I have made with women (both bloggers and non bloggers) through my blog. I have met some of my close friends through blogging! 🙂
I am sorry you find it offensive that I used the term “providing a service.” Of course women can shop on their own, but back when the focus of my blog was mostly on outfits and beauty products, I truly do feel like my readers came to my blog for inspiration and style advice. Maybe the term “providing a service” isn’t the right way to express it. I know that my readers value my style posts and outfit recommendations (as well as beauty products) because I can see which product are selling through my analytics. So it does feel rewarding to know that so many women trusted my recommendation to buy a certain top or pair of pants. Of course the money is just the extra cherry on top, but I would share the things I do whether I was making money or not (just like I did for the majority of the time my blog was around).
In terms of the personal element of blogging, I still feel I share a lot of glimpses into my personal and family life, just ask much as when I first started my blog. I have noticed a lot of other bloggers I read sharing more personal posts too, about their day to day lives, routines, pregnancies, etc.
There is no doubt that blogging has changed and there are more sponsored posts and brand partnerships, but if I really like a blogger and their style, it doesn’t bother me. I always assume that most bloggers have strong ethics and only work with brands whose products they truly like.
i would love to use this with ny 3 year old daughter! she is obsessed with photos as am I!
Love Love Love your blog! Love everything from your children, to your style and makeup, to your reviews!
You know what they say… “haters gonna hate” ?
Looking forward to your Disney post(s)
We just bought this camera for my daughter for her birthday!!! So cute! I love the donut card!!!!!
I love to take pictures and I’d use this camera to improve my skills. With fall and the holidays around the corner it would get a work out! I’m going to Bali on a yoga retreat in July 2017 and it would be perfect to bring to capture the brilliant scenery and beautiful country.
I love those coasters! I think the pictures on the calendar would be a super cute memory idea.
Wow this camera reminds me of the instant print camera my parents had years ago! My daughter loves snapping pictures for her memory board, this would be perfect her birthday this month!
I teach 5th grade and use the camera with my students. It brings up great conversations about the chemicals and science needed to produce the final product, along with “old school” technology. I also take pictures of them that I use for their lockers along with using pictures to display their work or capture them in action throughout the day. It makes it super fun and easy because I don’t have to worry about stopping by CVS to pick up printed pictures. It can get a little pricey but…I find it worth it!
In my personal life, I bring the camera along to special events- birthdays, trips, showers. I’ve hosted various baby showers where the camera was aspart of a DIY photo booth. It’s always a hit! I may need to upgrade to the new one seeing a small be had mine since we used it for our wedding photo booth over 6 years ago now!
Those cameras are so fun! I keep thinking about getting one, but haven’t bit the bullet yet.
I have been wanting one of these forever! I would love to take pics of my kiddos! 🙂
https://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly/status/772936727841345536 here’s my tweet!
I would make a collage of pictures of my kids to give to grandma for Christmas.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/773231951616544768
I would use the camera to take pictures of my kids dressed up in their school clothes, going to the pumpkin patch, picking apples! I would take pictures of them doing so many fun things!
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/773266569761652736
I would stick the pictures to my refrigerator
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/773291089729957888
I would use it to take photos of my dog mostly!
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
i would take pictures of my son and put them in a scrapbook
https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/773302901057912832
I love the Fuji instax cameras and have been wanting one to snap pictures of my kids and put them into a scrapbook for them! Thank you for the opportunity.
I tweeted about the giveaway! 🙂 https://twitter.com/redvelvetleo/status/773562951852752896
How fun! They’re like Polaroids.
I would use mine as favors/a fun activity during parties & gatherings so that guests can have fun and enjoy the photos too.
I’d love to tuck a photo of us into my daughter’s lunch bag 🙂
I would use my INSTAX photos to make a collage of my kids and give it to my parents for a gift.
https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/773620333853147159
I would use NSTAX photos to make holiday cards and calendar.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/773625357991804929
I would use these INSTAX photos to make a scrapbook for my parents of their grandchildren.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/773630485150990336
I would use it to make Christmas ornaments. How cute would the kiddos look in pics on some tree shaped paper?!
Tweet- https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/775739513821863936
I would love to take pics of my family.
I would take pics of my grandchildren and make Christmas gifts of them for their parents.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/780275104596922369
I would take pictures of my kids.
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/780552352075960320
This would be so fun to use with my kids! I’d love to use it to decorate their rooms!!
https://twitter.com/shiebs24b/status/781205150639661056
We would probably use this to make a collage! Thanks for the nice giveaway ?
allisonrsdswain(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/allisonrswain/status/781244766218575873
I’d use this for spur of the moment pics! Random pics in the car or on the walk home or at the school play! They just take fun, quick pics and I love it! 🙂 Instant ‘fridge pics 🙂
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/781315366475669504
I think having one of these cameras would be a great hit around the holidays when you have extra family around. It would definitely be a cool way to capture special memories.
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/calebaw3s0m3/status/781612818474868737
i would use it for family get together
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/781630605641605120
I’ve take INSTAX photos at a birthday party and then give them out as favors.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/781640777642278912
I would use it on trips!
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/781644843961290752
I would use to take pictures of my kids at the amusement park
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/781691827384684544
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
i would use them in a collage or artwork for the refrigerator
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/781787684284960768
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
I would use this camera while i was hiking. Sometimes those great moments like seeing a moose or a bear or just a beautiful view just happen and with this camera I could take and see the picture right away.
I posted on twitter https://twitter.com/nancy_loring/status/781822950769131521
I think it would be fun to use them at a kids birthday party. You could take Instax pics of everyone and then they could make and decorate their own frames or picture holders for their picture.
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/781919582705491968
I would use them to make Christmas presents. I love collages.
I would put the photos in picture frames.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/781955621226680320
I would love to use a Instax to take photo’s of my kids. These camera look like they would be so great. Thanks so much.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/782004069556772864
Thanks again.
How fun! Like you, I’d use the INSTAX photos to make greeting cards, but I also think I’d mount some on magnets to give as gifts.
I shared your creative post and the Fujifilm giveaway on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/782210459797774336
Thanks!
I would use it to make a photo guest book at my wedding!
I would use it at our family reunions to capture those special moments and at any gathering of my family and I think it would be cool because I could share!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/785808098850070528