I recently signed up for the Pretty Paper Things mail swap recently. I’ve never done anything like it but you know I love stationery and all things handmade so I thought it would be fun!

I wasn’t quite sure what to do to be honest, but ended up using rubber stamps, scrapbooking paper and washi tape for a bit of fun.

I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful package from Jenny in Canada. So gorgeous! She even sent me a banana bread recipe which I’m dying to try out now that the weather has cooled down.

It sure made a nice change from the usual bills and junk mail!

What was the last piece of ‘fun mail’ you sent or received?

I’ve mentioned my big weekend at Bowerbird Bazaar a couple of times this week so I think it’s high time I showed you some photos!

Last time my stall setup was pretty basic as I was just trialling the market to see if it would work for my business. Thankfully it did so this time around I put a fair bit more effort into my display. It still has a way to go but I am quite happy with it.

I launched some new products including these screenprinted white on kraft cards which were a hit so I’m very happy with that! (Coming to the online shop soon.)

Thank you SO much to my friends and family for their support, especially my Dad for helping set up and The Man for being there helping all weekend.

And a HUGE shout out to all you lovely readers who came along and said hello! It’s so nice to put faces to the blog stats

How are we today, friends? I’m still recovering from my huge weekend at Bowerbird Bazaar – no stamina now since I turned 29 on Saturday

I wanted to tell you about an awesome project I’ve been working on and have just released. Called the Clever Hello Club, it’s a greeting card subscription service where you receive two of my Akimbo cards each month.

Some will be seasonal and others will be for life’s occasions, both big and little. I love having a stash of cards ready to go for any occasion because I hate that last-minute dash to the shops before a party, don’t you?

You can choose from either a 6 or 12 month subscription for yourself or as a gift (ahemmothersdayahem). And because I know you’re spread all over the world, I’m not charging any more for international shipping (you can’t say I don’t look after you!).

I’m currently taking orders for the first shipment which will go out in June. Join us in the Clever Hello Club!

I know two posts a day is very unusual for me, but I wanted to drop back in to let you know that my business Akimbo is having a sale with $10 off all art prints.

I’m working on some new products and updating my packaging so I need to clear some space!

If you’re searching for a gift or something to brighten up your own walls, one of my art print could be just the ticket!

$10 OFF ALL ART PRINTS

Check out the full range here.

I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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I’ve been lucky enough to work (and share a few ciders) with the very talented Alanna Lock quite a bit over the last couple of years and her knack for colour and spotting beautiful products makes me swoon every time. Today she’s letting us know about a product I wasn’t aware of: giant washi tape! I know I’m excited at the possibilities, let’s take a look.  – Alicia

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Ahhhh Washi Tape… with its fun designs, rainbow of colour choices and many practical uses, I have to wonder how we ever got by without this cute little stationery must-have!

This seemingly all-purpose material can be seen prettying up the surfaces of everything from notebooks to vases to gift wrap and now… walls!

Japanese wallpaper company, Sincol, has teamed up with Japanese washi tape company, mt, to release a super fun range of oversized masking tapes for interior use. The range includes both solid colours and patterns in rolls that are now available in widths of 50, 100 and 200mm.

Get it now from NoteMaker.

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About the guest poster:

I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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A girl after my own heart if ever there was one, Krissy from Pretty Paper Things loooves all things stationery. She’s here to get you in the mood for 2013 with this roundup of gorgeous calendars. My pick would have to be #12, but I have a sneaking suspicion The Man would vote for #1.  – Alicia

This is my favourite time of year. Aside from all the Christmas decorations and present hints, I love this time because it means the start of the new year is just around the corner. And you know what that means? New calendar time!

If you get as excited as I do about the shiny newness of January 1st, you’re going to love these.

1. Red Cruiser

2. Brown Parcel Press

3. Dozi

4. Leah Duncan

5. Pam Lostracco

6. Spring Once More

7. Hungry Fox

8. Michelle Armas

9. Satsuma Press

10. Ask Alice

11. kikki-k

12. House that Lars Built

13. Federica Bonfati

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About the guest poster:

I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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Since I discovered the work of Penelope and Pip last year, I’ve been blown away time after time with everything that they produce. Artist Rachael Smith creates the most adorable illustrations on everything from cards to cushions (although the art prints are my faves), not to mention she is totally killing it on the DIY blog scene. Rachael was kind enough to design an exclusive new free printable wrapping paper just for Atypical Type A readers! What do you think guys, totally gorge, right?  – Alicia

One of the best parts of Christmas for us over at Penelope and Pip is the chance to create some cute wrapping paper.

When Alicia asked us to join in the fun over here at Atypical Type A while she was away, we knew just what we wanted to share!

Gift wrap can be so expensive and it’s lovely to have something different to the usual Santas and reindeer.

We’ve made a cute little wrapping paper just for you here at Atypical Type A that is full of birds and trees and some geometric shapes too.

You can download the paper here.

Pop over to our blog for lots more ideas on how to make your Christmas a Happy and Handmade.

We hope you enjoy wrapping all your goodies for Christmas!

(And we hope you’re having a fab holiday Alicia!).

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About the guest poster:

Rachael is an illustrator from Brisbane and the creator of the whimsical world of Penelope and Pip. She makes art prints and pretty paper goods and blogs daily about her art, craft and design inspirations at Penelope and Pip Handmade.

I was most pleased to hear from Shivani of My Owl Barn who let me know that the Owl Lover calendar was back for another year!

Now in its third year, the 2013 calendar features illustrations from 43 artists fom all over the world. You can customise it to your favourite 12, which has the added bonus for us antipodeans that we don’t have to put up with looking at wintery forest scenes when it’s 40°C outside!

I’m thinking it would make a sweet little gift for your children’s teachers (trust me, they get enough chocolate) or as a stocking stuffer for family members.

You can cutomise and download your free Owl Lover 2013 calendar here.

Back at uni studying graphic design (quite a few years ago now) they told us that design could change the world. Call me naive but I believed them then and I still do.

With all the greed, environmental destruction and commercialisation around us though, it’s sometimes easy to dismiss my teenage idealism as unrealistic.

That’s why I was so delighted when UK not-for-profit We Are What We Do got in touch with me recently. Their beautifully-designed range of books, 2013 diaries, tea towels or any of their fun and well-designed products for easy actionable ideas on how you can do your bit to change the world.

The best bit? It’s not all about sacrificing your personal comfort and enjoyment for the common good – all of their ideas are designed to actually improve the quality of your own life as well as the world around you. Think: baking with your granny, planting a garden, cooking a meal from scratch, writing a letter, enjoying a fair trade coffee… Sounds pretty good right?

Find out more at their website and see the full range of behaviour-changing products in their shop.

Recently I asked an amazingly talented team of wedding pros to help me create an inspiration shoot based around one of my new invitation collections for my business Akimbo.

I think I’m going to step out of the way and let the images do the talking today.

Everyone involved did such an incredible job of bringing my concept to life and it turned out exactly as I imagined.

MASSIVE thanks to the following people:

Photography by Eon Images | Styling by byGabrielle | Flowers & props by Poppies Flowers | Cake by Sweet Treats Cakes and Cupcakes | Tableware ‘Just Arrived’ Wares | Venue Glen Ewin Estate

Oh, and my mum for lending me my grandmother’s bone handled cutlery.

We were lucky enough to have it featured on Style Me Pretty so head over there and check out the full gallery.