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| Here's one we're going to keep on making | Here's one we're going to keep on making |
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| One of the 2008 Blue Peter Christmas make - a 3D starBrad Pitt says his young brood exchange home-made gifts rather than buy presents. But do children still revel in making stuff from cereal packets and toilet rolls? Yes, says Blue Peter editor Tim Levell. | |
| It started, as so often on Blue Peter, with a letter. Margaret Parnell, a housewife from Portsmouth, wrote in suggesting that the presenters show children how to make dolls' hats from crepe paper. The item went down so well that Valerie Singleton (for it was 1963) wrote back and asked if she had any more ideas. We try to keep the money spent to a minimum - the rule is that everyone's got to make something for someone else, you got to put time into it Brad Pitt in Hello! | It started, as so often on Blue Peter, with a letter. Margaret Parnell, a housewife from Portsmouth, wrote in suggesting that the presenters show children how to make dolls' hats from crepe paper. The item went down so well that Valerie Singleton (for it was 1963) wrote back and asked if she had any more ideas. We try to keep the money spent to a minimum - the rule is that everyone's got to make something for someone else, you got to put time into it Brad Pitt in Hello! |
| She certainly did. Over the subsequent years, Margaret and her successor, Gillian Shearing, produced nearly 1,000 "makes", ranging from the small (loo roll holders) to the spectacular (fully-equipped dolls' houses). | She certainly did. Over the subsequent years, Margaret and her successor, Gillian Shearing, produced nearly 1,000 "makes", ranging from the small (loo roll holders) to the spectacular (fully-equipped dolls' houses). |
| Some have so caught the public imagination that they've been repeated endlessly, like the Advent Crown, or led to runaway print runs, like the legendary Tracey Island, complete with its 100,000 factsheets. | Some have so caught the public imagination that they've been repeated endlessly, like the Advent Crown, or led to runaway print runs, like the legendary Tracey Island, complete with its 100,000 factsheets. |
| And the terminology has entered the nation's consciousness. Sticky-back plastic instead of the tradename Fablon; sticky tape instead of Sellotape; and of course the phrase "Here's one I made earlier" - a reference to the shortcuts needed to compress the item for television. | And the terminology has entered the nation's consciousness. Sticky-back plastic instead of the tradename Fablon; sticky tape instead of Sellotape; and of course the phrase "Here's one I made earlier" - a reference to the shortcuts needed to compress the item for television. |
| Make and do | Make and do |
| There are many ingredients in the Blue Peter mix - the appeal, the badge, the garden, the competitions, the daredevil stunts. But for many people, it's the makes that have endured, probably because they inspired them when young to turn away from the glowing TV screen and do something creative instead. FIND OUT MORE Blue Peter Christmas special is on BBC One at 1635 GMT on Wednesday 17 DecemberOr catch up at BBC iPlayer | There are many ingredients in the Blue Peter mix - the appeal, the badge, the garden, the competitions, the daredevil stunts. But for many people, it's the makes that have endured, probably because they inspired them when young to turn away from the glowing TV screen and do something creative instead. FIND OUT MORE Blue Peter Christmas special is on BBC One at 1635 GMT on Wednesday 17 DecemberOr catch up at BBC iPlayer |
| My brother, who works for an American financial institution, told me recently that he and his colleagues were devising the marketing for a European investment product by cutting up photos and text to create a promotional brochure. "We're having a Blue Peter moment," one said. | My brother, who works for an American financial institution, told me recently that he and his colleagues were devising the marketing for a European investment product by cutting up photos and text to create a promotional brochure. "We're having a Blue Peter moment," one said. |
| But in today's competitive children's television environment, with 30 dedicated channels, the internet and computer games all competing for attention, giving over a large slice of television real estate to show children how to make something practical and useful could seem like a luxury. | But in today's competitive children's television environment, with 30 dedicated channels, the internet and computer games all competing for attention, giving over a large slice of television real estate to show children how to make something practical and useful could seem like a luxury. |
| Demonstrating a make can take up to seven minutes - valuable airtime in anyone's book. And over the past few years, with supermarkets selling cut-price items like photo frames for less than a pound, the pressure on children to save money by making a corrugated cardboard version for Mum's Christmas present has definitely eased.Janet Ellis makes tree greeting cards | Demonstrating a make can take up to seven minutes - valuable airtime in anyone's book. And over the past few years, with supermarkets selling cut-price items like photo frames for less than a pound, the pressure on children to save money by making a corrugated cardboard version for Mum's Christmas present has definitely eased.Janet Ellis makes tree greeting cards |
| Until this year, that is. | Until this year, that is. |
| The effect of the credit crunch has spread far and wide - and children are not immune. "My pocket money used to be £3.50, but now it's only 50p!" 12-year-old Rohan told CBBC recently. And Emily, 11, said: "I get the same pocket money, but it seems that this year I haven't got as much, as everything seems to be getting much more pricey." | The effect of the credit crunch has spread far and wide - and children are not immune. "My pocket money used to be £3.50, but now it's only 50p!" 12-year-old Rohan told CBBC recently. And Emily, 11, said: "I get the same pocket money, but it seems that this year I haven't got as much, as everything seems to be getting much more pricey." |
| Thrift is back - and it's meant a resurgence of those same values which influenced Blue Peter in its start-up post-war years. India Knight's The Thrift Book is selling like hot (homemade) cakes; TV commissioners are rushing out shows about saving money and making stuff; newspapers have been full of features with headlines like "Credit Crunch Cottage" and "Christmas for free". | Thrift is back - and it's meant a resurgence of those same values which influenced Blue Peter in its start-up post-war years. India Knight's The Thrift Book is selling like hot (homemade) cakes; TV commissioners are rushing out shows about saving money and making stuff; newspapers have been full of features with headlines like "Credit Crunch Cottage" and "Christmas for free". |
| Reduce reuse... | Reduce reuse... |
| Children, too, appear to be making things again with an enthusiasm we haven't seen in a while. Younger girls never really lost their interest; but we all sit up and take note when 13-year-old Ben (a teenage boy) writes to say: "Because of the credit crunch, in my family we've decided not to spend more than £5 on each person and preferably to make handmade stuff!! I made some really cool boxes using papier mache for my cousins!!"John Noakes demonstrating how to make a castle in 1978 | Children, too, appear to be making things again with an enthusiasm we haven't seen in a while. Younger girls never really lost their interest; but we all sit up and take note when 13-year-old Ben (a teenage boy) writes to say: "Because of the credit crunch, in my family we've decided not to spend more than £5 on each person and preferably to make handmade stuff!! I made some really cool boxes using papier mache for my cousins!!"John Noakes demonstrating how to make a castle in 1978 |
| But if other boys Ben's age are going to be tempted to break out the scissors, sticky tape and used yogurt pots, there are a few preconditions. Recent feedback from children reveals that two elements that were always present are now non-negotiable. | |
| The first is to ensure that children only need items which are lying around the house or which would otherwise be thrown away. This is not only more environmentally friendly, but also, in the past, children have told us have said they don't attempt the makes if they haven't got everything to hand. | The first is to ensure that children only need items which are lying around the house or which would otherwise be thrown away. This is not only more environmentally friendly, but also, in the past, children have told us have said they don't attempt the makes if they haven't got everything to hand. |
| Only this summer, Geri Halliwell helped us make a very cool summer bag, constructed from the panels of plastic milk bottles (ingenuity is one of the core attractions of the makes). But when she had to tie the panels together with specially-sourced bright green bag ties, she rightly pointed out that most children wouldn't have them lying around in the kitchen drawer. Plain white freezer bag ties would have been more suitable. | Only this summer, Geri Halliwell helped us make a very cool summer bag, constructed from the panels of plastic milk bottles (ingenuity is one of the core attractions of the makes). But when she had to tie the panels together with specially-sourced bright green bag ties, she rightly pointed out that most children wouldn't have them lying around in the kitchen drawer. Plain white freezer bag ties would have been more suitable. |
| Secondly, if children are to be expected to make something they've seen on TV, it must be something they will actually want to make. This may be obvious, but when most children's toys require computer chip and flashing lights to get going, sticking and gluing doesn't always cut the mustard. | Secondly, if children are to be expected to make something they've seen on TV, it must be something they will actually want to make. This may be obvious, but when most children's toys require computer chip and flashing lights to get going, sticking and gluing doesn't always cut the mustard. |
| We hope that, with our Christmas 2008 makes, we've continued Blue Peter's long tradition of adapting our programme content to fit the changing times. What we didn't quite expect, in our 50th birthday year, is that the times would also change to fit in with us. | We hope that, with our Christmas 2008 makes, we've continued Blue Peter's long tradition of adapting our programme content to fit the changing times. What we didn't quite expect, in our 50th birthday year, is that the times would also change to fit in with us. |
| What are your tips for making last-minute Christmas gifts? Tell us, using the form below. | What are your tips for making last-minute Christmas gifts? Tell us, using the form below. |
| I have done my mum a hamper this year filled with some bought luxuries, but mostly home-made ones such as wine, pickled onions, stuffed dates and chutney. She'll love the effort I made. I also decorated my own wrapping paper with a potato print but that was far more effort than it warranted.Frances, Chobham, Surrey | |
| My self-employed business is due to go bankrupt shortly and as a result there isn't as much money to spend on everyone for Christmas - so I made a large batch of salt dough Christmas decorations. They took about a week to make, dry and paint and I wrapped them in handmade origami boxes and embroidery floss that's been unused for years. The best one, I thought, was for a family with five children. I wrapped up an old chocolate box in wrapping paper from last Christmas and made origami half-box dividers to put each of their decorations into, plus a white unpainted one. I included some paintbrushes and filled up one of my son's old paint sets with new acrylic paint (which I has used to paint the decorations with) so they can now decorate their own. So, they'll open the box and find their own paint-their-own Christmas decorations.Elizabeth, Shetland | |
| My wife and I made onion chutney and home made shopping bags (morsbags) as presents this year. It was probably worth the effort to avoid the madness of Christmas shopping. Still, it didn't feel that way as I was chopping my 60th onion and the kitchen still smells slightly of vinegar.Peter Saffrey, Glasgow, UK | |
| My almost 5 year old daughter LOVES making things. SO this year I set her a task of MAKING Eid cards for all the family. She spent several days and everyone of the recipients appreciated it immensely due to the hard work she had put in.Rameesha, Luton | |
| This is where knowing how to knit pays off. I taught myself out of a book two years ago and have made loads of presents. Handmade booties made of nice wool cost about £1 a pair if that and with so many of my friend having babies it's a Godsend. Our family often puts a limit on present costs and it goes a lot further when you're buying raw materials. I gave my mum a pure cashmere scarf last year and I was well within the limit. Plus I'm using the left over yarn to make hats for my cousin's kids. Rachael, London | |
| I've made all our Christmas presents this year - flavoured sugars and honeys, raspberries in port, preserved mushrooms. Try Mixed Spice Sugar. Ingredients - caster sugar, cinnamon stick, blade of mace, three or four cloves. Put the sugar into a clean, sealable jar. Push the spices into the sugar. OK to use after two weeks (when the taste has intensified). Just keep topping the sugar up as you use it. Adds a great flavour to biscuits, cakes, drinks and delicious sprinkled on porridge.Kelly, Kent | |
| We used to make paper mache puppet heads as kids. It involves blowing up a balloon, pasting on lots of bits of newspaper over it, painting it white all over and letting it set. You can then prick the balloon to burst and hey presto you have a round paper mache head which you can paint or draw on (or to bring it bang up to date, glue on a digital picture of the person you are giving it to or their favourite celeb). You could even pop some sweets inside it and call it a Pinata.Ali, North Shields | |
| I was never a big Blue Peter fan but I totally agree with the philosophy of making things for others. At the age of 41 I've just got into this and now make home-brew (not for kids), jams, chutneys, sweets and more. Toffee, for example, is so easy to make and just uses sugar, butter, vinegar and golden syrup. It doesn't just have to be sticky backed plastic to put a smile on someone's face.Parilia, Batley | |
| I'm always short of ideas for presents for my parents. They don't have many special interests and can buy (and do buy) about anything they need or fancy. Now that I've got children I get them to hand-craft gifts. The grandparents value these much more than anything shop-bought. Last year we made a very simple Christmas mobile (my son was only three) by adding glitter to simple paper shapes. This year we made salt-dough candle holders that we've painted and glittered. I just bought nice candles to put in them and I'm sure the gift will be appreciated.Emilie, Birmingham UK | |
| In Victorian times, it was considered very non-U to buy presents. It is far more personal to make your own.David Illingworth, Perthshire, Scotland | |
| What about "re-gifting" ? We sorted a lot of our presents by rummaging in the back of cupboards and finding things we were given last year and didn't want. The only problem is making sure we remember who gave them to us originally... Ian, London, UK | |
| When we were kids our Mum used to find small branches from shrubs and paint them using gold or silver paint. They used to look beautiful in a vase as a Christmas table centre or similar and it was so simple to do. Often my brother and I were given one to hang Christmas decorations that we'd made. As a child I was fascinated by the transformation, it seemed magical.Christopher Ratcliffe, Windsor, UK | |
| I used to love watching the Blue Peter crafts and tried many of them (including Tracey Island). But one thing I still do after all this time is make my own gift tags from last year's Christmas cards. It's so much cheaper and I always have much more than I can ever use.Janet Wilkin, Stansted | |
| Make everyone the same thing that was you limit the items you need to buy. For example I had to buy some Christmas-shaped cutters to make cookies and they were the biggest expense, so everyone is getting nicely packaged cookies.Caroline, London | |
| My tip for making a last minute gift:Take one unused, budget Christmas card.One crisp five pound note.Write a greeting in the card.Stick the fiver in the card.Hand to recipient.Go to the pub and stuff Christmas!Jim, Leeds | |