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Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP-850 (Giveaway!)

March 8, 2013 by 37 Comments

Having a top-notch printer is absolutely crucial if you (a) have kids, (b) run a home business, (c) enjoy taking pictures, and/or (d) homeschool. Since our family falls in all four of those categories, our printer gets quite the workout.

I’d like to introduce you to our printer – the Epson Expression Photo XP-850 Small-in-One Printer.

Epson Expression XP 850 Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP 850 (Giveaway!)

Designed with photo enthusiasts and families in mind, the sleek and compact printer delivers brilliant 4″ x 6″ photos as fast as 10 seconds (no need to use Walgreens, Shutterfly, or other photo printing services). The printer also features automatic 2-sided printing, CD/DVD printing, a rear paper feed for card stock & envelopes, plus convenient wireless networking. You can even print from your smartphone!

It has color fax capabilities too, which I am less enthused about since faxing is all but dead in 2013. RIP.

Here are a few projects our family has used the machine for.

Coloring Sheets! Our girls are forever asking for “just one more coloring sheet.” We typically google “free coloring sheets” and plenty of options pop up. Their favorite subject matter is princesses, Disney-anything, nature scenes, and/or children’s book characters.

printable coloring sheets Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP 850 (Giveaway!)

Another appealing option is that you can take any real photo and turn it into a coloring sheet. Cool, right?

Coloring Sheets from Photos Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP 850 (Giveaway!)

TucsonTopia Flyers! If you live in the Tucson metro area and haven’t stopped in at TucsonTopia.com, please do. Tim & I launched the site to help you find out “what IS happening, what WILL happen, and what you can help MAKE happen in Southern Arizona.” You’ll find restaurant reviews, park profiles, event listings, and weekly giveaways.

tucsontopia newsletter Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP 850 (Giveaway!)

Pictures for grandparents! I snapped a cute shot of my mom holding Audrey at the park several weeks ago. Instead of letting the photo sit on my phone, I decided to print it out and send it via mail for a happy postal surprise. (I really ought to do that more often – now that I know how to do it). It was so simple. I just went to my photo of choice, hit print, and the XP-850 “knew” to print it on 4×6 photo paper. So smart.

print directly from phone Fun Family Projects with the Epson Expression XP 850 (Giveaway!)

Give­away:

One Metropolitan Mama will receive an Epson Expression XP-850 Small-in-One Printer. ARV $299.99.

Enter:

Use the Raf­fle­copter form below to enter. Com­plete as many (or as few) tasks as you like.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thanks to Epson for providing two product samples – one for review and one for this giveaway. 

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  • Kristen

    I care about quality of printing (for pictures, etc) and price of ink! I had a great printer once, but the ink was sooooo expensive.

  • http://twitter.com/marriedlife Krista

    I actually care most that the ink is affordable and doesn’t run out in a month… :) I would like to get one with a scanner too, but beggars can’t be choosers…

  • susan

    I am looking for ease of use and print quality. Also, that the ink doesn’t cause an arm and a leg!

  • http://twitter.com/aawhitehead Whitehead’s Zoo

    That it is easy to refill the ink, not to expensive to refill and easy to use. I also like mine to be wireless.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mary.happymommy Mary Happymommy

    Print quality and affordable printer refills

  • latanya t

    whether or not it is laser or inkjet

  • scotandbecca

    I care most about print quality, and the cost of replacement ink cartridges. Those things are pricey!

  • http://twitter.com/DiscoveryStreet Ruthy T.

    I just started looking into new printers..ours is dying…so I’m kinda looking at all the details!

  • http://twitter.com/phxbne phxbne

    reliability!

  • http://twitter.com/KaraSCarroll Kara Carroll

    The photo to coloring sheet is amazing! My girls would absolutely wear that feature out.

  • http://www.facebook.com/alicia.o.wilson Alicia Osburn Wilson

    I have an older Epson…they make quality printers…I would love a newer model!!

  • Liz F

    My kiddos are the same, they are always asking me to print more coloring pages. I am a homeschool mama so I use a printer a lot as well.

    Also, I love that this printer can print photos from your iphone. How great would that be?

  • http://twitter.com/Jinxyisms Christy Wiggins

    I think reliability is so important and I’m a little impatient so fast printing is also a major plus.

  • ginger g.

    I care about the quality and the cost of the ink!

  • Sarah

    I care about the cost of ink, ease of use, and wi-fi printing capabilities! I have WAY too many pictures that would make great mail surprises, and I’d love to be able to do more of that!

  • http://www.superdumbsupervillain.com/ superdumb

    Print quality and reliability are the most important things. My current printer is a total dud on both counts!

  • Brandy

    The cost of ink.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002333317824 Dawn Schmidt

    I look for how much the ink costs for it! Some are so expensive

  • http://twitter.com/SaraMama SaraMama

    I want a printer with re fillable ink cartridges.

  • Amanda S.

    The cost of the ink is most important to me.

  • Aura

    cost of ink, how many pages it prints with each refill, size of printer, speed of printer, inkjet or laser, color or black/white

  • http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.hindman Lindsay Hindman

    cost per print, plus I prefer it to be able to print in grayscale to save money since black ink is almost always a lot cheaper!

  • http://jewelsandtreasures.blogspot.com/ jewelsntreasures

    I would definitely say the cost of ink is the most important thing to me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/donnapw1 Donna Pierson Wilson

    How the ink adheres to the paper – Epson is the best with this feature

  • http://www.facebook.com/kelly.urban.7146 Kelly Urban

    speed, cost of ink

  • Jeannette

    How clearly it prints and how expensive the ink is

  • Julie Bigboy

    I have never bought a printer before and boy, do I need one! We are in the midst of homebuying and I’ve spent a small fortune at the office supply store printing paperwork!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiffany-Ziegenhorn-OConnell/1316481224 Tiffany Ziegenhorn O’Connell

    Honestly it has been years since we have owned a printer at home – if we need to print something we head to work! That being said this printer sounds awesome. I love the idea of being able to print out quality pictures at home and mailing them off to the grandparents.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001610103760 Sarah VM

    I look for a printer that prints good quality pictures.

  • Susan P

    I’m partial to laser printers since the ink doesn’t dry out and you can get a lot of prints before you have to refill the “ink”. Now that I’ve officially started homeschooling (at my 5 yr old’s insistence) I would really like to have a color printer.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tinylittlebows Lauren Harmon

    I look for a printer that offers quality picture prints! I’m wanting to upgrade since my last purchase was out of desperation and was a garage sale buy… LOL. It’s nice enough but this one would blow it out of the water!

  • Tabathia B

    How long the ink last, if it’s an e-printer, if it includes a scanner.

  • Staci A

    I look for something that offers good quality prints and is easy to use.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Livivua-Ramsey/100002068230566 Livivua Ramsey

    The number of pages per printing and size

  • Jessica L

    Speed, cost of ink, quality. I like having a Quick Print feature for regular paper pages.

  • Audra Weathers

    I care about print quality/resolution and how expensive the ink is.

  • http://twitter.com/hburmeister Harmony B

    print quality and price of ink