Art and play with Ms nimble fingers

Mumbai-based pre-school trainer Meghann Mascarenhas will customise quirky stationery products and is a one-stop-shop party supplier too

Art and play with Ms nimble fingers

Mumbai-basedu00a0pre-school trainer Meghann Mascarenhas will customise quirky stationery products and is a one-stop-shop party supplier too

Smart packaging is half the battle won. The marketing gurus will tell you that. Even an ordinary gift gets brownie points if it's packaged in colourful wrapping paper and has a cute gift tag. Ask Meghann Mascarenhas, the 28 year-old who turned her hobby into a home-run business. Her product list includes envelopes, gift tags, wrapping paper, cards, files, scrapbooks and photo albums decorated with interesting paper cutouts,
ribbons, sequins, beads and glue.

Meghann Mascarenhas displays some of her designs.
Pic/ Sayed Sameer Abedi

As a newly-married friend's house-warming gift, Meghann created a colourful recipe book interspersed with family recipes, playful images and interesting fonts. You can also approach her with a basic idea or theme and she will conjure something eclectic for you. That she is a hoarder is of great helpu00a0-- "I am a packrat who loves to collect wedding invitations, cards, souvenirs, discarded beads, sequins and old wrapping paper. I recycle these materials to make new creations."

Inspiration comes from the illustrations found in children's books, which explains why butterflies, flowers and doodles feature prominently in her designs. Apart from stationery, she also takes orders for party decorations including buntings and streamers and can also make special glasses for the occasion. She has made party decorations for birthday parties, bachelorette parties and next up is a poker-themed party.It's not just paper craft that drives her; she also bakes desserts inspired by her mother.

For a recent theme party, she made Under the sea cupcakes. Other baked goodies include Oat and Raisin / Vanilla / Cinnamon cookies, Sponge Teacakes and Chocolate Shortbread. Despite a growing clientele, Meghann has no intention of going mainstream. "My products have a personal touch, which I wouldn't want to give up for anything," she concludes.

Call: 9820439892
Price range: Rs 10 for gift tags; Rs 20 for envelopes; Rs 150 for quarter kg of cookies and biscuits; Rs 300 per kg of cake