Mr Squiggle

Published on August 14, 2025August 14, 2025 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome!

Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

This was so much fun!

In July, the Canberra National Museum opened its exhibition Mr Squiggle and His Friends. It celebrates the incredible life of Norman Hetherington—the creative genius behind Mr Squiggle.

Norman was a lifelong artist and storyteller, turning his hand to everything from cartoons to commercial art. He entertained troops during WWII, designed costumes and stage sets, wrote scripts, and even acted.

Mr Squiggle first aired on ABC on 1 July 1959. Children from all over Australia sent in their “squiggles,” and Mr Squiggle would turn them into clever drawings right before our eyes. The show ran for over 40 years, and my sisters and I absolutely adored him.

And yes—Mr Squiggle’s nose did actually draw! In the early days, it was a felt-tip pen. Later, he also used crayons and chalk. The magic happened thanks to Norman, who operated the puppet from above and skillfully drew with that famous pointy nose.

Mr Squiggle was just one of many wonderful puppets brought to life by Norman Hetherington

How I created my layout

For this double-page layout, I knew I wanted the colours to be just as happy and lively as the moments in my photos. The Stampin’ Up!®Celebratory Sips Designer Series Paper was an instant “yes!” with its bright, vibrant palette and cheerful patterns—it practically shouts celebration.

To add movement and texture, I grabbed my Stylish Shapes dies and cut a scattering of circles from Two-Tone Cardstock. Each one got a little crafty treatment—scrunched up for dimension, then lightly sanded to reveal some of the white core. I love how this little step adds so much personality to the page.

For the finishing touches, the Just a Note Bundle came out to play. Its sweet accents and shapes were perfect for anchoring my journaling spots and pulling the whole layout together without stealing the spotlight from the photos.

The end result? Bright, fun, and full of the same joyful energy I felt when those pictures were taken.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!