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S.W.A.P.S stands for Special Whatchamacallits
Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.
Swaps are small
crafts that Girl Scouts give as gifts or trade with other scouts.
They have a safety pin, clothes pin or string to allow the SWAPS to be
attached to something.
Why swap?
To promote friendship. To learn to talk
to other people. To have mementos of a good time. To share your handiwork
with other scouts.
Supplies:
Heavy paper (like index cards) cut
to 1x2 inches
Contac paper
Hole punch
Safety pin
Fine tip markers
Directions: Cut heavy stock paper,
1x2 inches. Decorate as an airmail envelope. Put your name and address
on it. Waterproof with Contac paper. Punch hole for hanging. This is a
great idea for those who have pen pals. Great swaps to send to your new
pen pal to always remember the address and to possibly introduce swaps
for the first time.
Alligator
from National Convention Kansas City, MO., Kathy Stephan
Supplies:
one standard size spring-type
clothespin
white, green, yellow paint
pin back
Directions: Paint clothespin
green. After dry paint eyes on with white paint. Use yellow paint to
paint dots on back of alligator. Add white paint for teeth. Attach pin
back
Supplies:
Small twig (1 ½” piece)
Small plastic ants
Glue gun
Pin back or safety pin
Directions:
cut 1 1/2-inch piece of twig, which is about 3/8 inch in diameter. The
girls glued on small plastic ants, from a party store. Then hot glue a
pin on the back
Supplies:
Eyelet trim (inch and a half
wide)
Glue gun
White ribbon
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Take eyelet and
cut to 1” sections. Cut white ribbon about 3”. Glue ribbon to top of
eyelet. Put safety pin through or add a pin back.
Supplies:
Black model paint
Paintbrush
Plastic prize capsule from vending
machine
Silver model paint
Plastic prop from a box of pizza
Model glue
Vermiculite (available at garden
stores)
Scissors
Red Foil
Screen
Dried lentils
Cotton Ball
Directions: 1. Paint the inside and
outside of the lid of the prize capsule black. Let dry. Paint pizza prop
silver. Let dry. Bend out the legs of prop and glue it to the underside
of the capsule lid. Let dry.
2. Glue a pinch of vermiculite
inside the bottom of the grill. Cut tiny pieces of red foil. Glue them
to vermiculite to look like glowing coals. Let dry.
3. Cut a circle of screen to fit,
then set it inside the grill. Glue dried lentils to the screen to make
burgers. Add a pinch of cotton to screen to look like smoke. Let dry.
Supplies:
Small baskets or nuts (like
walnuts)
Construction paper
Flowers
Pom Poms
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Using small
baskets or nuts as baskets add construction paper for handles on the
nuts. Decorate baskets with flowers or pom poms (for Easter eggs) or
anything you like. Add pin back or safety pin and your done.
Beaded Angel Pin
On thin wire string 7 pearl beads,
run ends of wire back through the next row of 6 beads. Continue
adding rows of beads until only one bead. String one larger pearl for
head. Then put wires together and string tiny gold beads for halo. Make
loop with gold bead part. On separate wire make a circle of gold beads
twist into wings. Glue on back with hot glue and a pin clasp too.
(idea for a tree ornament. Instead
of the pearl beads use 8mm crystal facet beads.
Then use a pearl bead for the head.
You could use 4-mm gold facet beads for halo and wings. Glue gold cord
on back for hanger.)
Bear Pin
Materials (per bear):
1 large (about 1 *" diameter)
pompom in black or brown
2 smaller (about *") pompoms to
match the large one
1 even smaller (about *") beige or
tan pompom for snout
2 wiggle eyes (I think we used 4mm
size)
1 pin back
1 oval of black (or brown) felt to
hold pin back to pompom
Tiny scrap of black felt for nose,
cut into sort of a rounded triangle shape
Glue (we used Tacky glue)
Directions: Just glue them
together, two ears positioned atop head, then eyes (tweezers really help
in applying eyes) then snout, then nose on the tip of snout. (Tip: use a
good amount of glue (not so much as to be drippy, but more than you
would need for paper of the same size) and really squeeze those pompoms
to each other when gluing for a bear that will hold together well.) We
recommend that a leader pre-assemble the pin back to the felt oval using
a glue gun - then the girls can just glue the felt piece to the back of
the bear head after the face is done. No two bears come out exactly
alike - it’s fun to see all their personalities! We left our bears
unadorned, but you could use yarn, ribbon or felt to make hair bows and
bow ties to dress them up.
Supplies
Two pieces felt 2" x 4"
2 pieces of yarn, 5-6" in length
Safety pin
Elder’s glue
Directions: Lay the pieces of felt
on top of each other. Roll them up tight. Tie with yarn at ends. Attach
pin with glue.
Beret
Supplies:
Material cut into a 3’ circle
Thread
Needle
Pom pom
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: take 3-inch circle of
material. Sew around the edges. Draw the thread to gather. Tie ends.
Press flat. Glue or sew a contrasting color pompom on top.
Construction paper
Plain white paper or notebook paper
Stickers (optional)
Embroidery floss
Mini hole punch
Safety pin
Directions: Cut construction paper
and white paper into mini books. Use stickers to decorate for a
specific theme or just for fun. Put troop info on inside of book like
troop #, your name, council, etc. Punch hole in top of book with mini
hole punch. Put a small piece of floss through hole to attach your
safety pin to.
British Phone booth
or Red Double-Decker Bus:
Cut red plastic canvas into rectangle about 1 1/2x2. Use black and
white scribbles paint to outline door for phone booth, wheels, etc. for
bus.
Supplies:
Small old-fashioned wooden
clothes pin (larger ones for younger girls)
Paint or markers
Mod podge, white glue or
varnish
Eye screw
Safety pin or key ring
Cording for necklace
Directions: Each girl gets a
clothespin. Give each girl an eye screw and have her screw it in to top
of head. With a pencil have each girl draw an outline on the clothespin
of themselves. Think about the bottom as the feet and draw shoes. Arms
are on the side to be painted in. Hope this makes sense. For younger
girls pre-draw doll on clothespin. Let girls use markers or paint to
color the dolls in. Using modge podge or watered down white glue, or
varnish put a finish on the clothespin. Once dry; add cord for necklace
or key ring to put on backpack. For swap put on safety pin.
Brownie Try-it
White
foam cut into a triangle (or circle) and decorated with puffy paint like
a try-it or badges. Glue pin on back.
Buttons and Hearts
Supplies:
Red fun foam
Glue gun
Buttons
Hole punch
Paper
Safety pin
Directions: Use hearts cut from red fun foam. Hot glue 2-3 buttons on
each heart. Using a hole punch, punch a hole in top of heart for pin and
attach tag that reads:
Buttons hold things together
Shirts, sweaters, even leather.
Lasting friendships will never part,
if held together with the heart!
Supplies:
Precut butterfly bodies of felt
Sequins
Pom poms
Wiggle eyes
Pipe cleaners
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: For Daisies and young
Brownies, precut the butterfly bodies from felt; older girls can use a
pattern to cut them out. Have a variety of sequins on hand for
decorating their wings. Accent the body of the butterflies with several
pompoms. If desired Wiggle eyes can be glued on, and Antenna’s can be
made using pipe cleaners. A safety pin can be stuck through the
butterfly.
Supplies:
Old Mylar balloon
Cardboard
Safety pin or pin back
Glue or glue gun
Directions: cut Mylar into
the shape of a CD. Glue to cardboard. Attach pin
Supplies
Green fun foam
Black marker or fabric paint
Pin back
Directions: cut green fun foam out
in the shape of a cactus. Use black markers or fabric paint to make the
lines, or add your troop number.
Supplies:
2-film canister lids
Hot glue
Ribbon
Directions: take 2-film
canister lids hot glued together, glue ribbon around, make a loop with
ribbon, glue bead at the top (under the loop), put your troop # on the
side and year on the other side. Use year/numbers confetti or just
handwrite with perm. marker.
Campfire
Materials:
2” x 2” Square of corrugated
cardboard
2” x 2”Square of brown felt
OR juice can lid and circle
of brown felt to cover the lid
thick craft glue
Dry white beans
Straight pretzel bits
snips of red and yellow yarn string
1.Glue felt to the cardboard
or lid to form the base.
2. Punch a hole near the edge, big enough to thread the string through,
to hang your swap from. You can thread the string through now or after
the craft is finished and dry.
3. Arrange a circle of beans on the base, to represent a ring of rocks
around a fire. Glue them in place.
4. Glue several bits of pretzel and snips of red and yellow yarn in
place to form the
wood and flames of a fire. Let dry.
5. Add the string if you haven’t already and a safety pin for hanging.
Supplies
Cinnamon sticks or grocery
bags
Red, orange, & yellow felt
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: use cinnamon
sticks or rolled grocery bags for logs. Cut red, orange, yellow felt
into strips to use for fire. Hot glue pin or safety pin to back.
Candy
Canes
Twist red and white pipe
cleaners together to form candy canes. Hot glue pin back on back.
Supplies:
Candy molds
Plaster of Paris
Pin back or safety pin
Paint
Directions:
fill candy molds with plaster. Add a
pin back before the plaster dries. When dry paint and spray with sealer.
Variation: use bread and glue
molding dough
Supplies:
Bottle caps or film canister
tops
Flip to from aluminum can
Black spray paint
Felt scraps
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: glue silver flip
top to bottle caps or film canister top. Spray it black. After it is
dry glue pin to back. Use felt scraps cut up to resemble food.
Christmas Stocking
Cut tiny little stockings out of red or
green felt. Glue bits of cotton on the top for trim. Hot glue or glue a
pin back on stocking OR add a small loop of felt and use a safety pin.
Christmas Tree
Bend green
chenille stems (pipe cleaners) into a Christmas tree outline. Glue
little poms or "gems" on the points and a star on the top. Glue on pin
back.
Cinnamon Hearts
Supplies:
Cinnamon
Applesauce
Directions: Pour half a bottle of cinnamon in a bowl. Add applesauce, a
spoonful at a time until a stiff dough consistency is reached. Roll out
and cut out heart shapes with cookie cutter. Poke a whole in top with
coffee stirrer. Let air dry for 2 days turning occasionally. String gold
or red cording through the hole when dry, attach a small pin and you’re
done.
Supplies:
Regular cheap wooden clothespin
Pom poms
Glue gun
Directions: Take a regular cheap
wooden clothespin, glue two pompoms next to one another at the clip end
on the front side (The front is the end you don't squeeze on to open the
pin). You want to pick your size of pompom so the flat surface of the
clothespin is covered by the pom pom. Add 2 wiggle eyes to the first and
second pompom, glue a 2" piece of pipe steam folded in a "V" for the
antennae. Write info on the bottom of the pin. The pin itself clips on
so you don't need a safety pin.
Clothespin Reindeer
A simple reindeer swap could be made out
of the miniature, old-fashioned clothes pins. (The kind that has a round
head and is just split to go over the clothesline) Paint them brown.
Turn upside down, so the split is the antlers and the round part is the
nose. Glue on wiggle eyes. To make Rudolph, glue a tiny red pom on the
nose. Glue on pin back
Conch
Supplies:
Conch (whatever shape you
choose)
Leather lace
Pony beads
Glue gun
Directions:
Take a conch Tie a piece of leather
lace through the holes (could use ribbon too). Tie lace in a tight
square knot, thread 3 pony beads on the end of each lace and tie an over
hand knot to secure. Hot glue a pin back on the back.
Cowboy Boots
Supplies:
Red fun foam
Sequins
Black marker or paint
Pin back
Directions: cut out cowboy boot (s)
of red foam. Add a Star shaped sequin on the bottom of the boot for a
spur. Decorate with markers or paint for the "stitching" on boots.
Cowboy
Hats
Supplies:
Tan fun foam
Markers
Pin back
Directions: cut out cowboy hats of
tan fun foam. Decorate with markers
Supplies:
New crayon
Glue gun
Pin back
Directions: Hot glue crayon to pin
back.
Crown
Use metallic gold poster board (I
cut up gold gift box) or paint poster board gold. Cut into crown shapes
about 1-2 inches. Glue on a "jewel". Pearly Queens- Use fun foam cut
into any shape (We did blue hearts) glue on several white "pearly"
buttons. (Pearly King or Queen is the title given to the stallholders (costers)
at English markets that decorate their vests, hats, etc with bright
buttons pearl or brass).
Supplies:
Small old-fashioned wooden
clothes pin (larger ones for younger girls)
Paint or markers
Mod podge, white glue or
varnish
Eye screw
Safety pin or key ring
Cording for necklace
Directions: Each girl gets a
clothespin. Give each girl an eye screw and have her screw it in to top
of head. With a pencil have each girl draw an outline on the clothespin
of themselves. Think about the bottom as the feet and draw shoes. Arms
are on the side to be painted in. Hope this makes sense. For younger
girls pre-draw doll on clothespin. Let girls use markers or paint to
color the dolls in. Using modge podge or watered down white glue, or
varnish put a finish on the clothespin. Once dry; add cord for necklace
or key ring to put on backpack. For swap put on safety pin.
Description-
A pin with 7 beads that can be slid along a ribbon to keep
Track of good deeds.
Supplies: (for each pin)
Ribbon (1/4" will work, but 1/8"is
easier for the girls to get through the beads)
7 pony beads (red, yellow, blue,
orange, purple, green, white (or clear, or glow-in-the-dark)
Safety pin
Directions: Measure the ribbon to
about 20" long. Fold the ribbon in half and tie an overhand knot a
little ways down from the top. You need leave only enough room for the
safety pin. Slide your first bead on one ribbon strand, and then push
the other strand up from the bottom of the bead. When you pull the
ribbon snug (and with a little judicious adjusting) the bead will be
sideways. Continue with the rest of the beads and tie another overhand
knot about an inch below the bottom bead. The first few go a little
slower because of having to adjust the beads, but then the pace picks
up.
To Use:
You pin it on your shirt (a good
place to start), and then when you do your good deed for the day you
slide a bead to the bottom. By the end of the week, if you've done your
good deeds every day, all 7 beads should be at the bottom. The colors
are for the 5 worlds of interest, plus green for GS and glow-in-the-dark
because it's cool:) Can also use the same concept to make countdown
hangers. You will need more beads. The number will depend on how far you
want to count down. Count-down hangers can be used to count down to
favorite holidays...especially birthdays
Supplies:
Foam
Laundry marker
Embroidery floss
Safety pin
Directions: cut up foam into
small cubes. Add dots with marker. Take needle and thread floss through
dice and hand from pin. Suggestion would be to tie a knot after putting
around the pin to keep from falling off.
Supplies:
Netting
Yarn
Yarn needle or bobby pin
Woodsies (1 – 1 ½”circle ones)
Markers or paint or stain
Safety pin
Directions: cut a small circle out
netting about 3” wide. Attach yarn to needle or bobby pin and thread
through netting. Before pulling tight have girl’s paint, stain or use
markers to color the small circles of wood. Put the “plates” inside the
netting, pull tight and tie a knot. Attach safety pin.
Supplies:
Small piece of wood
Piece of paper with poem
attached or write on the wood
Pin back
Directions: Glue pin back to
wood. Attach a paper or write on the wood.
1. Place block on the floor.
2. Walk around it twice.
3. Sit down!
Relax!...You have just walked
around the block twice
from National
Convention Kansas City, MO., Kathy Stephan
Supplies:
Fake fur
Wiggle eyes
Scraps of felt
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: To prepare, cut the
fake fur into narrow strips and then cut those strips into small
creature sized pieces. The girls can glue wiggle eyes on and can use
scraps of felt (allow them to cut these out themselves or use precut
shapes, depending on their dexterity and personal feelings of self
efficacy!) to create tongues, eyebrows, hats, whatever. Use a safety pin
for attaching
Fan
Supplies:
Wallpaper
Ribbon rosette
Scrap lace
Glue gun
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: cut out small
piece of wallpaper. Fan fold the wallpaper. Open like a fan and glue
lace on edge and ribbon rosette at base. Attach pin to back
Supplies:
Scrap of felt
Needle
Yarn
Marker
Scissors
Directions: Can fold felt in half
or cut several at one time. With scissors, cut 4 arches (humps, half
circles) out of felt. Circle around the last one & cut 4 on other side
(leaving space in middle from the previous cuts) ending with a circle
back to the starting point. Use marker to put eyes & mouth on first
circle. Put yarn on needle & go in & out once from the front above the
eyes. Cut yarn at about 1" (depending on the size of your caterpillar)
and tie a knot at each end of yarn for the antenna. Attach pin through
the felt. Other critter shapes can be done similarly.
Supplies:
Posterboard
Sequins
Hole punch
Straw
Thread
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Cut 2 or 3 small fish
shapes; draw on a mouth, eyes and scales. Decorate with sequins or
markers. Punch a hole near the mouth of the fish. Tie some thread on to
each fish. For the pole take 1/3 of a regular drinking straw and poke a
small hole in the end and thread through the hole. Glue a pin back to
the straw.
Supplies
Discarded Silk flowers petals or
buy some silk flowers
Pom poms in a variety of colors
Wiggle eyes
Scraps of felt
Tiny pom pom
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Using discarded silk
flower petals (single circles of petals like from a mum which has fallen
apart- many craft shops will donate these), glue a large pompom into
it's center. Create a face on this pom pom using wiggle eyes, scraps of
felt for a mouth, tiny pompoms for the rosy cheek circles. Use your
imagination.
Flower People
Buy/find some silk flowers (Daffodils and Sweet Pea blooms work well. I
believe Daisy blooms would be good also.) Cut them off the stem just
below their first pair of leaves (which will be wings). Turn the bloom
upside down so the open side is on the table. This will be the skirt.
Glue a bead that is in proportion to the head to the bloom. Add a face
(eyes, mouth). Use pipe cleaners (the ones with the bumps) for arms. I
was told two bumps are just right. Get a bag of curly doll hair and glue
some onto the head.
Variation: for an angel you
can use gold braiding for a halo, or other ribbons. If you can find a
small straw hat, you could use that in place of a halo for the angels.
Supplies:
Any friendship bracelet
Safety pin
Directions: Make or buy a
friendship bracelet and attach a pin.
Supplies:
Green pipe cleaners
Pony beads in the colors of the
worlds
Safety pin
Directions: Cut green pipe cleaner
into 3 " lengths thread on pony beads. Twist to close and add pin
Supplies:
Safety pin
Seed beads
Directions: using seed beads
and several safety pins create pictures. Look for ideas on the net or
in craft stores.
Links to
Patterns
Beaded Friendship Pins
Supplies:
1 1/2" (approx.) circles of any
color fun foam
A sharpie marker
Yarn
Glue
Scissors
Pin back
Directions: Draw a funny face on
the circle & write your troop # at the bottom or on back, using the
Sharpie marker. Wrap the yarn (any color) around 3 fingers several
times, and then tie off with another piece of yarn, in the middle. Cut
each end of the loops you've just made and separate the strands to
"frazzle" the hair. Glue it to the top of the fun foam face for hair &
glue the pin back on the back.
Contributed by Gloria Davis,
Mohave Valley, AZ , Arizona Cactus-Pine GS Council
Ghost
Supplies:
Macramé
Beads
Square of white muslin or
inexpensive fabric
Orange and Black yarn
Ribbon
Black marker (fine point)
Safety pin
Directions: The girl takes the square of muslin and puts bead in the
center ties the muslin under the bead, with orange or black yarn. The
leader may have to help make a bow out of it. Fine point marker for eyes
and "O" shaped mouth. Safety pin may be attached to back of “head
through muslin or attached to ribbon tying head. These can be made up
very quickly.
Supplies:
Old puzzle that pieces are
missing out of
White spray paint
Laundry marking pen
Pin back
Directions: take puzzle piece and spray paint white. Let dry. Put two
black dots on one of the corners of the puzzle pieces. Attach pins to
back.
Gingerbread People
Supplies:
Fine grade sandpaper or
brown felt
Small gingerbread person
shape (to trace)
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Trace and cut out gingerbread people. Decorate with glitter,
crayons and glue on a neck ribbon and hanger for a pin. For younger
girls you might want to have the people already pre-cut
Girl Scout Badge
white foam cut into a circle
and decorated with puffy paint like a try-it or badges. Glue pin on
back.
Print out "GIRLS SCOUTS SPARKLE"
and your troop number in a nice and small font. Have the girl’s cut
them into a small circle shape (about 1" in diameter). Then pull out
about 6" of clear packing tape and sprinkled 1/2 of it with sparkle
confetti. Put message face down on the unsprinkled half and fold the
tape on top of itself and it self seals. Then cut around the circles.
Use this in a variety of themes such as cutting them into fish shapes to
swap at a dad & me fishing event (and call them Rainbow Trout), or
rainbow shapes whatever.
Supplies:
Glue gun
Glitter
Wax paper
Safety pin
Directions: drizzle glue-gun glue
onto wax paper in small design. Cover with glitter. Let cool, peel off
paper, glue on a pin
Supplies:
Toothpicks or matches
Embroidery floss
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Using different
colors of floss weave in and around cross of toothpicks. Attach pin to
back.
Gold Medal
Supplies:
Old poker chips
Gold spray paint
Red, White, or blue ribbon
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Paint poker chips
gold. Glue a loop of red whit & blue ribbon to the back and add a pin
back to the top of the ribbon. Write something like Gold Medal Girl on
the front and event/Troop info on the back.
Green Angel
Supplies:
Styrofoam meat trays
Cookie cutter
Markers
Pins
Directions: Use the cookie cutter
has a pattern- trace the outline on the Styrofoam- bake in about 350-400
degree oven on old or foil covered cookie sheet. Watch carefully, they
melt fast, they will curl up and down, when flat remove from oven. (They
can be colored with markers before or after baking, it is a little
easier before because they are bigger.) Attach pin to back. Other cookie
cutter shapes can be used, but I found that none of them melt exactly
evenly, so you will want to experiment to see which ones work best.
Supplies:
Red construction paper
Clear contact paper
Glue
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Write troop #
and Council Name on red construction paper, then cover with clear
contact paper, glue on pin back.
Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss
Supplies:
Styrofoam balls cut in half
(1/2” or 1” balls make for actual size Kisses)
aluminum foil
Ribbon
Glue
Directions: 1. Cut your Styrofoam ball in half. Also cut your aluminum
foil into small squares and cut ribbon into lengths of less than 3
inches. Place flat part of 1/2 ball on foil. Make a loop with your
ribbon (fold in half). Place ends of ribbon along side of ball, dab in a
bit of glue and gather the foil up around the top of the 1/2 ball to
make a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss shape. Once the glue dries you can use
the loop to attach a safety pin. If desired you can print up strips of
paper with troop info or the name of the event and glue them onto the
swap.
Supplies:
White or tan felt
Paperclips
Safety pin or pin back
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