10 easy photo mementos you can make with an instax™ camera or printer
After low-effort, maximum-impact DIYs that’ll transform your instant snaps into cute mementos? Whether you’re printing from your instax™ smartphone printer or pulling fresh shots from your instant camera, these ideas are quick, affordable, and as fun to make as they are to give.
A quick heads-up before we start…
Consider yourself a complete crafting novice? Luckily for you, these are zero‑pressure projects. No perfect handwriting, no £40 craft kits — if your toolkit is scissors, tape, and blind optimism, you’re basically all set.
Snaps that make memorable mementos
Mementos are all about meaning, and nothing captures it better than instax™ photo prints. You can gather snaps you’ve already taken on your instax™ camera or print favourites straight from your phone using an instax™ printer. The key is selecting photos that transport you back and capture the energy of each moment. Get inspired with these ideas for every print size:
WIDE shots: Have a Link WIDE smartphone printer to hand? Print WIDE photo prints filled with the people who matter most: your day ones waiting to catch the last bus home, sheer bestie joy set to a backdrop of dreamy hues, or a spontaneous group huddle in the middle of a busy festival field. WIDE images are a chance to showcase where you were, who was there, and what it meant — no cutting anyone out. Plus, with the Link WIDE instant photo printer, you can add your own QR code message or voice note for an ultra-personal touch.
mini shots: Whether they’re straight from your camera roll via the mini Link 3 photo printer or fresh from the instax™ mini 41™, mini prints are always a joy to give and take. Too many to choose from? Go timeless with it: a black-and-white selfie with your BFF, *the* cutest close-up pic you have of your pet, or a dreamy sunset silhouette on the beach.
SQUARE shots: Prefer to print SQUARE? With the instax™ SQUARE Link smartphone printer, you’ve got plenty of room to play with. SQUARE prints give you a balance between detail and breathing space, ideal for moments that deserve a little visual drama. Go bold with a striking candid or an illuminated view of a city you love. With AR print modes, you can even sneak in doodles, animations, or secret messages only viewable with the QR code. These are layers you can unlock again and again.
Top tip: Picking shots to transform into photo mementos? Look for snaps with plenty of still contrast and negative space; these micro-frames sing when the subject pops.
Now you’ve got your snaps, here’s what to make:
1. Personalised photo phone case
After a phone case that screams ‘instant heart eyes’? Forget skipping through pages of generic designs; use instax™ prints to create something ultra-personal. Have a dreamy holiday snap of you and your BFF sipping on something cool? Maybe you nailed a soft glam selfie just before a night out? Pop it into a clear case, secure it with double‑sided tape, and keep that memory with you wherever you are.
Optional upgrade: Obsessed with pattern, colour, and general cuteness? Add pearlescent heart stickers, gold celestial shapes, and a beaded strap that matches your manicure — or clashes spectacularly.
2. Cute instax™ photo keyring
Tiny, personal, and portable, a photo keyring always makes a timeless gift. And it’s *so* easy to make. Pick a mini print that means something to them: it might be a moment of pure joy on holiday or an adorable shot of their first pet. Then, purchase a pre-made photo keyring, or make one by laminating a print and cutting it down to size (a heart shape works really well for this).
Making yours with a laminate pouch? Leave a little excess above your print so you can puncture a hole for your keychain.* Then, all you need to do is slip a keychain through the hole, and you have a thoughtful gift for a bestie in a flash.
*Take care to avoid accidentally cutting or creating holes in your prints, as this can cause the internal chemicals to leak.
3. Easy magnet mementos
Forget cluttering your fridge with to-do lists and tax letters. Why not make room for your fave spaces and faces? Print some standout WIDE shots of your favourite city view, or a cluster of mini prints from a night you never want to forget. Then, add slim adhesive magnets to the backs, and they’re ready to stick straight on — an instant mood boost every time you reach for the milk.
Prefer to skip the DIY bit? Check out our pre-made magnets, ready to eternalise your memories, straight out of the box.
4. Personalised gift tags & present toppers
The paper gets torn to shreds, but the tag? That can live on. Use your mini film prints to create personalised gift toppers that feel boutique without the boutique price tag. Attach colourful or metallic thread to the back with tape, add a cute message, and you’re good to go.
Optional upgrade: Crush the coordination by matching your film photo gift tags to your wrap. Hunt down a soft gradient wrap and pair it with our SQUARE Sunset Instant Film or our mini Macaron Instant Film for dreamy pastel feels in an instant.
5. BFF self-care box
BFF feeling a little frazzled? Grab an elegant box and fill it with thoughtful bits. Perhaps a soothing eye mask, their fave body lotion, herbal teabags… maybe even some homemade chocolates. Then, make it even more personal.
Take a few fun mini prints feat. your BFF. Think: the candid laugh, the post‑spa glow, the time you both stayed up till 5 am just talking, and hide them right under the lid of the box.
When they open it, not only will they see all the goodies, but they’ll also see a collection of memories that remind them what you love about them. Finish with a cute note encouraging self‑care and a suggestion to keep the box as a memory stash. Low cost to you, high impact for them.
6. DIY personalised diffuser
This one’s another ideal gift for a BFF. Start with a chic bottle, and blend a scent that feels like them. Maybe it’s a hit of neroli and bergamot for the friend who’s always optimistic or vanilla and sandalwood for the one who lives for candlelit evenings. Add a carrier oil, your chosen essential oils, and diffuser reeds. (There are loads of easy ‘how‑to’ videos on TikTok if you want to follow a step‑by‑step.)
To make it even more personal, print a mini or SQUARE shot that connects to the mood of the scent — maybe it’s them in a garden at golden hour or unwinding in a coffee shop on a rainy day. Laminate it to avoid oil damage (check the keyring how‑to if you need a refresher), then either slip it into a small tag holder or use double-sided tape to fix it to a gift tag. Tie this around the bottle’s neck with ribbon or string to match their aesthetic. It’ll be a sweet gift, made even sweeter with a personal photo touch.
Optional extra: Make a tiny scent card to go with it — their photo on the front, the diffuser name and scent notes on the back. It’ll turn the gift into something extra thoughtful and make it mean even more
7. Concertina memory matchbox
This one’s the ultimate show‑and‑tell moment. Start with a small, decorative matchbox and a handful of mini prints. Flip the prints over and, using double-sided tape, stick them together in a long, continuous line, making sure they’re all facing the same way. Then, fold your strip of photos back and forth like a paper fan or a concertina.
Finally, bring everything together, tuck it into the matchbox, and tie it with a tiny bow. When you open it, the photos will spring out, bringing a wave of nostalgia with them.
8. Mega framed photo collage
Sometimes, less is more. Other times, more is more. Got stacks of SQUARE snaps you’re obsessed with? Don’t limit yourself to one snap per photo frame. Layer all your standout shots from over the years to create a massive photo collage for your wall. Think: overlapping selfies from your most memorable trips, messy nights out during your uni days, and heartfelt shots that give you all the feels.
Frame-wise, don’t feel you have to stick to basic black or white. You could repurpose a vibrant picture frame or find something vintage for an old-school feel.
Optional upgrade: Own more than one instax™ camera or printer? Why not mix up print sizes and film types in a single frame to add more texture and interest? That way, you can chop and change pics whenever you want without worrying whether they’re all the same shape or style.
9. Novelty mini photo easel
Love a novelty memento? This one’s for you. All you have to do is purchase a mini photo easel from an online art or craft store and stick a single mini or SQUARE print right on the front. That’s literally it.
Love getting crafty but never seem to have time for it? This is the perfect reminder to take time to do what you love. You could even take a pic of a drawing or piece of art you’ve done and make a mini version of it. By popping it on your desk, it’ll inspire you to make your passion a daily habit. (It also makes a great gift for an art lover.)
10. Bestie’s birthday photo book
Bestie’s birthday coming up? Go all out with a personalised birthday photo book. Grab a blank scrapbook and load it with mini prints from every era of your friendship. Add all your ‘silly face’ selfies, baby‑faced throwbacks, fancy dress moments, and, of course, all those playful birthday shots from over the years.
For maximum fun, go all out with the birthday theme. Glue bits of confetti to the pages, add tiny gold stars, create their name in fake candles on the front, and stick to strictly instax™ mini 'Confetti' Film and instax™ mini Sprinkles Instant Film. It’ll be the kind of bday gift they'll never forget.
Get even more inspo from instax™
Obsessed with photo mementos? Get even more inspo from our latest blogs. Whether you want to explore the best instax™ film for every occasion or try your hand at making desk decor, with instax™ cameras and printers, your memories become the main event.
