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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
Directions: cut out shape of ice
skates two for each swap. Sandwich paperclip in-between two ice skates
and glue pin on or put safety pin through felt.
Supplies:
Narrow strip of felt
Tiny feathers
Pom poms
Seed beads
Wiggle eyes
Pin back
Directions: Glue felt to pom
pom. Make sure felt hangs down about 1” past pom pom on both sides.
Use your imagination and decorated with feathers and beads. Give it
characters and add wiggle eyes. Add pin back.
Supplies:
Leather strip
Pony beads
Feathers
Safety pin
Directions: attach leather
strip to safety pin. Thread beads on and push feathers under beads.
Glue if desired
Supplies:
Toothpicks or small twigs
Tan felt or scrap of leather
Black felt or small piece of
black poster board
Scrap yarn
Fabric paint
Laundry marker
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: cut black piece
in a small triangle no longer than the toothpicks. Cut the tip off so
toothpicks show at top of teepee. Glue toothpicks to sides of black
piece. With tan felt or scrap leather cut a piece the same size as the
black piece with top cut off a pinch. Cut a door in the bottom of piece
(small triangle). Take piece of scrap yarn and make a loop and glue
in-between black piece and tan piece. With laundry marker make Indian
signs on outside of teepee, or paint with fabric paint. Attach pin.
Kite
Supplies:
Scraps of felt
Scraps of yarn
Safety pin
Directions: cut felt in
shape of kite. Glue yarn to end. Add bits of yarn for bows. Attach
safety pin.
Love Stamp
Supplies:
"Love" stamps (from your
local Post Office -- 33 cents each!)
clear Contact or laminating plastic sheets
Small safety pins or pin
backs
glue (hot glue works best with pin backs)
Directions: Make a sandwich with one stamp and two stamp-sized pieces of
plastic. Trim neatly. For pin, glue pin back to reverse side. For swaps,
attach a safety pin to the corner. You can use other stamps, too (there
are some gorgeous designs available, or visit a stamp dealer for
low-cost discards that collectors don't want). You can get stamps in
smaller values if you are really pinched, or ask girls to bring in used
stamps from home. (The envelope backing will give the stamp a little
extra body.) I have done this with all levels from Brownies to Seniors
and they all love it -- the Seniors used the recent comic strip stamps!
M & M’s
Supplies:
M&M’s
Colored cellophane
Yarn or ribbon
Directions: wrap M&M’s in
cellophane and tie with ribbon. Attach pin. Yummy
Supplies:
Popsicle stick
Black paint
White paint
Glitter
Directions: paint Popsicle stick
black, ends white, glitter on ends
Supplies:
White pony beads
Small twig
Directions: with 1 or 2
white bead's glue onto a small twig.
Variation: Tami Katzer –
Sunflower Service Unit Olathe Kansas)
Use brown florist twist
paper with a wire in middle. Cut off 1 ½ - 2 inches and untwist a
little to look like a twig. Glue a white pony bead on one end.
Meat Tray Shrink Art
Attention! Younger girls may need adult help with this project!
Materials:
Clean Styrofoam trays (from meat, cookies, etc.) Cookie cutters (2 inch
or larger)
Markers Scissors Aluminum Foil (used foil works fine) Cookie Sheet
Optional materials:
Hole punch Ribbon Pin backs Craft glue
Instructions:
1. Using cookie cutters as a guide, trace shapes on to foam trays.
2. Color shapes with markers.
3. Cut out shapes with scissors and trim neatly.
4. If you are making jewelry charms or holiday ornaments, use the hole
punch to make holes wherever you need them.
5. Cover the cookie sheet with aluminum foil
6. Place shapes on cookie sheets and bake at 350o F for about 5 minutes.
Don't forget to turn on the exhaust fan in your kitchen! Watch
carefully! Shapes will curl as they shrink. When they are flat, they are
done. Do not over-bake!
7. Remove from sheet when cooled. Hang on ribbons or glue pin backs to
the back.
Supplies:
Teddy bear graham cracker cookies
or anything small
Modge podge
Gold paint
Pin back
Yarn
Directions: spray paint your item
gold. After dry, modge podge it and let dry. Add pin back with
hot glue gun. Hang for necklace on yarn or smaller piece of yarn and
hang off safety pin.
Supplies
Tiny pink pom poms
Felt in the color of mouse you want
Wiggle eyes
Pink pipe cleaners or color to
match your mouse
Safety pin or pin back
Glue gun
Directions: Cut a gray heart out of
felt. Fold in half and glue. The pointy end is the mouse's nose. Add
wiggle eyes and whiskers (out of thin pieces of black felt). Glue on
pom pom for nose. Add a pink bit of pipe cleaner for a tail and a pin.
Supplies
Pom poms
Wiggle eyes
Yarn
Glue gun
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Glue two wiggle
eyes on pom pom. Braid pieces of yarn and attach to the bottom of the
pom pom in the center of the yarn so there are eight arms. Add pin.
Supplies:
Old magazines
Foam meat trays or foam picnic
plates,
Glue
Felt tip markers
Clear nail polish
Pin backs
Directions: Cut out scene (small)
from magazines. Trace around edge of picture onto foam meat tray or
disposable foam picnic plate. Cut out. Edge border of picture and foam
back with felt tip market. Glue picture to foam back with craft glue.
Let dry. Brush two coats of clear nail polish over all surfaces; allow
to dry between coats. Glue bar pin to back.
Oscar in a Garbage Can
Supplies:
Film Canister
Green Pom Poms - one per
Oscar
Wiggle eyes -two per Oscar
Glue
Ribbon or String
Directions: Put glue on full circumference of lip of film canister. Glue
a short loop of string or ribbon and the green pom pom to this lip. Glue
top of canister to the top of the green pom pom. Glue at whatever angle
desired to look like garbage can lid. Then glue wiggle eyes to green pom
pom to look like a face. Add a safety pin to the loop of string.
Supplies:
Wallpaper samples (that look like
fabric)
Clear contact paper
Hole punch
Ribbon
Safety pin
Directions: take wallpaper samples
make a quilt square. Layer it between clear contact paper. Punch a hole
in a corner and tie a ribbon to it and then tie to a safety pin loop.
Supplies
Peach pit
White paint
Wood bead
Rafia
Gold pipe cleaner
Laundry marker
Blush
Markers or doll hair
Pin back
Directions: Paint peach pit white.
Hot glue wood bead on for head. Open rafia streamer and cut a small
amount off. Pinch in the middle and glue to back of peach pit. On wood
bead glue or use markers to add hair, eyes, mouth, etc. Cut off small
piece of pipecleaner and form into a circle for halo and glue to head.
Use a small bit of blush for cheeks. Attach pin back.
from
National Convention Kansas City, MO., Kathy Stephan
Supplies:
Peanuts
Wiggle eyes
Small beans
Pom pom
Modge podge or white glue
Pin back
Directions: Give the peanut
a glossy look by putting modge podge on it first. Let dry. Add eyes;
bean for nose, pom pom for hair. Attach pin to back
Supplies:
Embroidery floss
Micro Pony beads
Small (short) pencil about 1” in
length
Small eraser
Tape
Safety pin
Directions:
Put a rubber eraser on the end of pencil. Before wrapping with the floss
you tape one side of a safety pin on the pencil, and then cover the
taped side as you wrap with the floss. Each one had some dangly pieces
of floss strung with beads. It is based on the craft article in the
January/Feb issue of American Girl Magazine
Pennants
Supplies:
Scrap felt
Laundry marker
Safety pin
Directions: cut felt in long
triangle like a pennant. Add troop # and safety pin
Picture Swap
Supplies:
Fabric or wrapping paper with small
pictures on it, picture you took, or sticker
Contact paper
Laundry marker
Safety pin
Directions: Stick clear contact
paper on top of a sheet of wrapping paper or cloth remnant that has many
pictures in the theme of your choice. Cut out the pictures in the shape
of your choice. Use a Sharpie pen to write your troop name, date, event
etc on topside of the swap. Other pens will smear on the slick contact
paper surface. Put a safety pin through the top of the swap and you are
done.
Pinecone Girl Scout
Supplies:
Small Pine cone
Wiggle eyes
Color of felt for sash
Pin back
Directions: Glue wiggle eyes
and sash on pinecone. Attach pin back
from
National
Convention Kansas City, MO., Kathy Stephan
Pizza
Supplies:
Tan, red, yellow green felt
scraps.
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: pizza
is made of tan felt with red, yellow and green felt scraps glued on
Supplies:
Plastic canvas
Scissors
Yarn or floss
Directions: Cut out shapes from
plastic canvas. You can stitch them or not as you wish. You could just
outline them with yarn in an overcast stitch. These are cool in the
colored canvas; there are lots of bright and neon colors.
Supplies:
White Sculpti clay
Rolling pin
Small bear cookie cutter
Red and green paint
Varnish, mod podge, white glue
Ribbon
Gold cording for necklace
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Roll out White Sculpti
clay to about ¼” thick. Cut out with tiny (about 2 in. tall) bear
cookie cutter. Before baking stick safety pin into back. Paint on face
and little holly leaves and berries on one leg. Varnish for a shiny
look. Add little tiny bow on neck. Run gold cord through pin for
necklace. If using pin back can glue on afterwards with glue gun.
Supplies:
Pom poms
Scraps of felt, poster board
Wiggle eyes
Pin
Directions: use pom poms to
create an animal. Add eyes and feet and antenna if desired. Add beak
and feathers for a bird, flippers for a seal, a trunk for an elephant
Purim mask
Supplies:
Poster board, felt, or fun foam
Glitter
Sequins
Coffee stirrers
Feathers
Bits of ribbon
Curling ribbon
Safety pin
Directions: precut little harlequin
mask shapes out of poster board (my favorite medium for this due to it's
sturdiness), felt, or fun foam and gave the girls glitter glue
(preferably in pen form), sequins, etc. with which to decorate these
masks. These could also be used as Mardi Gras masks. We attached pieces
of coffee stirrers (donated by McDonald's) to simulate the little sticks
such masks often have. Bits of feather, ribbon, or curling ribbon help
enhance these. Use a safety pin for attaching.
Puzzle pins
Supplies:
Old puzzle with pieces
missing
Favorite colors of fabric
paint
Fingernail polish with
glitter in it
Glitter
Modge podge or white glue
Pin back
Directions: Paint puzzle and
let dry. If putting glitter on it, add glitter before dries. If using
fingernail polish let paint dry first. When completely finished modge
podge and add pin
Supplies:
White Fun foam
Pipe cleaners – color of the
rainbow
Glue gun
Pin back
Directions: Cut piece of white fun
foam in the shape of a cloud and use rainbow colors of pipe cleaners and
glue the arch of rainbow colors across the bottom of the cloud.
Supplies:
Poker chips
Black spray paint
Drill (this will need adult
help or done in advance)
Label
Directions:
Paint poker chips black. Drill a
hole in the center. Glue a label to the center with event info or troop
info. Add a pin to the back.
Supplies:
Puzzle pieces
Brown spray paint
Wiggle eyes
Red fabric paint
Pin back
Directions: 3 small puzzle pieces
painted brown. One piece is the face, the other 2 glued behind like
antlers. Wiggle eyes and red nose painted on tip of face piece. Little
holly leaves and berries on one of the antler pieces. Pin glued on back.
Supplies:
1 - mini rose bud
1 - 18mm Star Flake (clear)
2 - 8mm faceted bead (clear)
1 - Berry Bead (clear or an
opportunity to add color at this point)
1 - 25mm Star Flake (clear)
Directions: Remove the green paper
from the wire (stem) of the rose. Beginning at the top of the supply
list, put the star flakes and beads on as noted. (18mm, 8mm, berry bead
and 25mm). Attach/wrap the leftover wire around the 25mm star flake to
hold it all together.
by Gwen Corey from Charleston, SC
Roulette Wheel
Supplies:
Use a round base such as a
milk jug lid.
Directions: Paint wedges of
black and red, then glue on a tiny seed bead as the marble. Put on a pin
back, and you're done!
Royal Guard
from England
-aint mini clothespin black, leave
one side of top plain for face. Cut red felt 1 1/2x3 inches fold in half
and cut slit for head to fit through, this is the red coat. Use 1 1/2
piece of white pipe cleaner twisted around waist for belt. Glue a 1 inch
black pompom to top for hat. Glue pin on back.
Supplies:
Potpourri
Lace scraps or netting
Yarn or thread
Safety pin
Directions: cut a circle of
lace approx. 4” across. Add small amount of potpourri in middle. Weave
yarn or thread around the outside of circle and pull together with
potpourri in middle. Attach safety pin.
Supplies:
Scraps of leather
Yarn
Pipe cleaners
Safety pin
Directions: cut leather in
tiny saddles. Add yarn and pipe cleaners for stirrups.
Supplies:
Scrap phone cable
Safety pin
Pencil or paintbrush handles
Directions:
Take scrap of phone cable, peal off
the plastic outside. You'll have lots of colored-coated wire. Take a
number of pieces of the wire; wrap the wire around safety pin and curl
pieces around a pencil or a paintbrush handle.
Supplies:
Communion cups or plastic
cup similar size
Colored sand
Glue
Pin back
Directions: Take small plastic
cup. Fill with layers of colored sand. Cover the top with white glue
and let dry. Add a pin to one side.
Santa
Paint
acorns like Santa's head. Glue on pin back
Supplies:
Sculpey Clay
Oven
Directions: Shape a piece of the
clay into a flat circle (like a quarter). Using clay of other colors,
make a scene of the event or make letters naming the event. For
instance, for day camp last year, my daughter and I made the shape of a
lake and a couple of pine trees, then put the letters "GF '96" on the
piece. We also made a couple of pins for the leaders with pictures of
their camp names, i.e., for "Butterfly" we made a butterfly (what else)
etc. Bake the pins as directed (usually at 275 degrees for about 10-12
minutes.
When cool glue pin backs on (a hot
glue gun would work best).
Supplies:
Star cookie cutter
Yellow fun foam
Silver pipe cleaners
Glue
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Trace a Star cookie
cutter on yellow fun foam cut out and use silver pipe cleaners cut in
about 3 1/2 in pieces (I used 3 sections) and glue coming out of the
side of the star.
Supplies:
Shells
Wiggle eyes
Yarn
Safety pin
White glue
Directions: glue eyes on to
make shell critters. Or take those with natural holes and string them on
one end of a piece of yarn. On the other end glue a fish, drawn, colored
and cut from construction paper.
Supplies:
Shrinky Dink plastic
Any shape you desire
Laundry marker
Permanent markers or colored
pencils
Hole punch
Directions: get some shrink
art plastic from the craft store (most shrink art plastic comes in about
8-11 1/2) And put about 4-6 images per page and cut out. Have the girl’s
color them with either permanent markers or what I found is colored
pencils work the best. Cut them out. And put them in the oven according
to the directions.
Variation: Meat trays: Put
in about 400 degree oven but watch them close because they do shrink
quick and if they curl up flatten them a bit before they get hard and
are still pretty warm. You add a pin to the back, you can even spray
seal them if you like. Or plain white Styrofoam plates (you get a lot
per pkg.) and cut our some hearts and have the girls decorate them with
sequins or buttons, or glitter. You can also get some valentines day
kids cards, the kind with characters on them and just cut our the
characters and anything cute on the card and glue it to poster board and
make a cute pin. What I did with my daughter is just cut out the hearts
and some characters and let her go with it.
Shrink Art Ideas
Council Patches:
make a copy of a Council Patch, maybe shrink it some on the copier.
Trace it on to the shrink plastic and color it. Shrink it per package
instructions. Glue on a pin or if you want to hang it punch a hole
before you shrink it
Council Strips:
Same as above using council strips instead.
Badges/Try-its:
after you have finished a badge/Try-it make a shrink plastic swap same
as above.
Pins:
Do the same with Daisy, Brownie, GSUSA or WAGGGS pins.
State Flags:
Draw copies of your state flag on shrink plastic.
Supplies:
Wallpaper or the like
Yarn
Needle
Paper towels or napkins
(cotton balls)
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: cut
squares of wallpaper (or other
suitable stuff) sew edges with yarn, stuff with folded paper towel.
Supplies:
Scraps of felt or fun foam
Ribbon
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Cut a small
rectangle from felt and tie with a ribbon.
Supplies
Fun foam
Quilt batting
Glue
Safety pin
Directions: cut tan and dark
brown fun foam in square pieces. Add a piece of quilt batting for
marshmallow. Glue all together and add pin.
Supplies:
Cereal box or other box
Brown felt
Cotton ball
Glue
Yarn
Safety pin
Directions: cut up sections
of a box, a square of brown felt and a cotton ball. Glue all together
with yarn and attach to a pin.
Supplies:
Cardboard backing to attach pin to
beige and dark brown felt
Cotton ball
Felt tip pen
Tacky glue or glue gun
Pin
Directions: Cut a1"x 1" piece of
poster board (or cereal box) and glue a pin to one side. Layer#1 is a
piece of beige felt over the poster board (on opposite side of pin) so
the poster board doesn't show. (This is the graham cracker on the
bottom) The felt can be cut with pinking shears or regular scissors
Layer #2 is a square piece of dark brown felt (for the chocolate layer)
a bit smaller than the beige square. Layer #3 is a cotton ball stretched
out to be the marshmallow. Then layer #4 is a smaller beige felt square
(cut with pinking shears or regular scissors) with felt pen dots on top
to be the top layer of graham cracker. Glue each layer to the next; glue
guns work the best, but tacky glue works well too. Brownies will need
help using glue gun be sure tacky glue is completely dry before wearing
or they all fall off.
All ages can do this, including
Daisy’s
S'mores 4
Supplies:
Light brown felt (color of graham
cracker),
Dark brown felt, (color of
chocolate),
White felt (color of marshmallow),
Tacky glue or craft glue,
Safety pins.
Directions: There are two shapes
you can do this in. One-inch square is easier for younger girls
(Brownies); but 3/4" by 1 1/4" looks more realistic. For each swap cut
two pieces of light brown felt to the size chosen. Cut one piece each of
the dark brown and white felt, again, in the size chosen. Take one piece
of light brown felt. Put some glue on it, and top with dark brown felt;
repeat with white felt, then other piece of light brown felt. Put safety
pin through one corner, and you're done!
Snowman
Supplies:
Craft sticks
Black & white paint
Laundry marker
Ribbon
Pin back
Directions: Craft stick (or tongue
depressor for larger version) painted white. Top tip painted black.
Round piece of felt with slit cut in it. Slip over black end. Glue front
of felt to stick. Draw with sharpie or paint eyes and mouth black,
orange triangle nose. Tie thin strip of fabric or ribbon for scarf and
glue pin on back. (Found this in the Dec issue of the American Girl
magazine).
Supplies:
Pipe cleaners
Yarn
Safety pin
Directions: cut pipe cleaners
into quarters, wrap yarn around the middle to form a spider. Attach pin.
Supplies:
Pen
Quarter
Flat expandable yellow sponge
Scissors
White acrylic paint
Small paintbrush
Pink Marker
Glue
Paper doily
1 =BD button
=BE inch button
Pliers
Colored metal paper clips
Ruler
Yellow acrylic paint
1. Trace around quarter on sponge.
Cut out circle. Cut a triangle wedge out of the circle. Wet the sponge
pieces so they expand. Paint the top and sides of the sponge pieces
white to look like frosting. Let dry.
2. Use pink marker to draw a stripe
of frosting inside the circle and on the side of the wedge. Glue a piece
of paper doily to the top of the 1 =BD in. button. Glue the cake to the
doily. Glue the wedge to the smaller button. Let dry.
3. Use pliers to cut colored paper
clips into =BE in. pieces. Insert each piece of wire into the top of the
cake. Paint the tips of the wires yellow to look like candles. Let dry
Supplies
Woodsies
Paint
Pin backs
Directions: Paint Woodsies that are
the appropriate shape like sports balls.
Supplies:
Ribbon or floss
Tape
Safety pin
Directions: Take different colors
(for example, Juniors might use blue and green) of ribbon, about 6"
long. Tape the ends of the ribbon to a table and have the girl’s
practice making square knots in them until there is about an inch and a
half left. Then tie a small bell on the end. Usually they will get 4-6
knots on the ribbon, and it is great square knot practice! Change the
color to suit season, etc. You could also do this, but braid the ribbon.
Strawberries
Supplies:
Red and green felt
Black marker
Safety pin
Directions: for Daisies and young
Brownies, precut the strawberry from red felt and the stem from green
felt. Provide wiggle eyes and a black marker for creating a face and
little seeds on the strawberry. Stick a pin through to use for
attaching.
Supplies:
Styrofoam cups
Lace
Beads
Silk flowers
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Turn oven on to 350
degrees. Take Styrofoam cup and turn upside down on foil covered cookie
sheet. Watch "cups as they will melt very quickly and always melt into
what looks like a hat. Remove from oven. Decorate with beads, sequins,
and lace. (We used cool glue guns). Glue a pin to the back
Supplies:
Pom poms
Mini cups (communion cups or
similar size)
Coffee stirrer
Tiny red pom poms
Pin back
Directions: Put several pom
poms in small cups, a small red pom pom on top, and a section of plastic
straw
Supplies
Fun foam or poster board
Cellophane
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: cut foam or
poster board into shape of sunglasses. Glue cellophane to back of
sunglasses. Attach pin.
Supplies:
Long straight pin
Plastic lacing
Seed beads
Wire cutter
Directions: Cut 1 inch of plastic
lacing. Stickpin through one end of lacing add several seed beads.
Stick pin through other end of
plastic lacing forming a handle. Use a wire cutter and cut the tip of
the pin off for safety.
Supplies:
Straw
White felt scrap
Glue
Small piece of wire (from twist
tie) or safety pin
Directions: cut straw 1". Wrap
strip of white felt and glue on, leave end of felt dangling, run a wire
through to "hang” Note: you could also use toilet paper instead of felt
and yarn instead of wire.
Supplies:
Fun foam
Laundry marker
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: Cut out the
shape of your state from fun foam and write the state name or initials
on it in Marker. Add a pin back and you're done!
Trefoils 1
Supplies:
Green pipe cleaners
Safety pin
Small paper with troop info
attached
Directions: out of pipe cleaners twisted into that shape, with a small
safety pin and a tag attached reading our troop number, etc. It's
inexpensive and effective.
Cut out a trefoil in fun foam and
decorate. Add a pin
Trefoil
3
Felt trefoils with troop
number written in fabric paint. Add a pin
Supplies
Green fun foam
Turtle patter
Green sequins
Directions: cut turtle out of green
fun foam. Glue on sequins for the turtle shell.
Supplies:
Valentines Day Cards
Copy machine
Clear contact paper
Safety pin, pin back
Directions: Pick a cute
Valentine from a box of kids Valentines. Write Troop # and council Name
on back. Have color copied, then shrunk. Cover with Clear Contact paper.
Add a pin.... Cute!
Variation: Valentines Day kids cards, the kind with characters on them
and just cut out the characters and anything cute on the card and glue
it to poster board and make a cute pin.
Supplies
Heart shaped candy molds
Plaster of Paris
Bar or safety pins
Washable markers
Paints
Glitter
Or other decorations
Glue gun or craft glue
Directions: For younger girls (or
even older ones to save time), mix Plaster of Paris according to
instructions. With a spoon, fill molds with Plaster of Paris. Let set
till firm. Remove from mold and let dry, preferable 24 hours before
coloring them. Older girls may want to mold their own. At meeting,
provide plaster hearts and markers, paint, etc. The girls can decorate
them in any fashion they prefer. Glue pins onto back of heart. If you
have some narrow lace, you can glue that onto the back for an extra
frill.
Supplies:
Clip Clothespin
Magnet strip
Wiggle eyes
Metal washer
*instead of magnet use large pin
clasp
Directions: Glue magnet (or pin
clasp) to clothespin. Glue washer and wiggle eyes to clothespin.
from
Patti Gardner (swap from National Convention)
Supplies:
Wooden nickel
Pin back
Directions: glue pin back on nickel
Supplies:
Silk leaves
Brown pipe cleaners
Paintbrush or pencils
Glue gun
Wiggle eyes
Directions: Silk leaf with a
rolled pipe cleaner in it to resemble a worm. Wrap a pipe cleaner around
a thin paintbrush (Pencils work, but give fatter worms). Hot glue the
worm to the leaf; add eyes and antenna if desired. Glue a pin to the
other side.
Wreaths
Supplies:
Pipe cleaners
Ribbon
Pom poms
Sequins
Safety pin or pin back
Directions: wrap pipe cleaner in a circle and decorate with ribbon, pom
poms or sequins.
The swaps on
these pages have been gathered from a variety of places. These are not
my own ideas. I collect them because it is fun although I have never
made one of these. I used to make something like it but instead of
using pins my mom and I used magnets. We then had refrigerator
magnets. Fun to make. These have been gathered from
www.makingfriends.com and from the old Chris
Welch site. Thank you to these ladies that I received a copy of there
swaps from someone else. Thanks to RuthI, Deb Graham, Sue, Kris Swank,
Carolynn Roden, Jodi Gregory, Tami Katzer (Sunflower Service Unit
Olathe, Kansas), Christine, Beth McClendon, Lori Saker, Rae Haynes,
Katkug, Nagiolowan, Margo Mead, Rachel, Joyce Betz, Sally Zeil,
Katherine Faella, Sue Moore, Deb Morrow (Foothills Council), and Gail
Faulkner (NW Georgia GS Council). If your idea is here and your name is
not mentioned e-mail me and I will be more than happy to add your name.
There are thousands of ideas out there for swaps this is just a start.
Happy Scouting
Angela Brown |
