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Girl Scout Community 479
(Cincinnati, Ohio)
 
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"SWAPS" Keepsakes for Girl Scouts



Swaps are a tradition of Girl Scouts exchanging keepsakes. This started long ago when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides first gathered for fun, song, and making new friends. 

SWAPS History
"SWAPS" can trace their roots to POTLATCH the Native American custom of a ceremonial distribution of girls. The "SWAP" was introduced into Boy/Girl Scouting/Guiding as a way to introduce one Scout to another. The swaps were traded and a conversation would result from explaining the swap. Many of these "SWAPS" started long friendships that lasted although the two swappers may have lived in different countries.

Swaps were widely exchanged at national Girl Scout Senior Roundups in the 1950's and 1960's.In more recent years, some Girl Scouts describe the types of objects now preferred as swaps by calling them:

Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere

Why Swap?
Swaps are a way for Girl Scouts to meet each other and promote friendship. Each SWAP is a memory of a special event or Girl Scout Sister. A SWAP is usually a small homemade item that represents the person, their community, their background or the event.
What to make?
S.W.A.P.S. can be simple or complex, cheap or expensive, whatever the creator desires. It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on S.W.A.P.S. Many people make them out of scraps or natural materials. Most S.W.A.P.S. are made with pins attached so they can be pinned onto a camp shirt or hat.  S.W.A.P.S. are little things girls and leaders make to trade with each other at regional or national events. S.W.A.P.S. usually tell something about the person who made it or about the area or region that they are from. They can also represent the theme of an activity or event. S.W.A.P.S. are usually only an inch or two in size. Instruct the girls to create their S.W.A.P.S. with a safety pin attached, or some way of wearing the swap.
How Many?
Each girl should decide how many S.W.A.P.S. she wants to trade. S.W.A.P.S. can be made during part of a troop meeting, during a special meeting called for the purpose of making S.W.A.P.S., or with examples at the meeting, with the S.W.A.P.S. to be made by the girls at home.
What to do with them?
S.W.A.P.S. are traditionally pinned on a S.W.A.P.S. hat. This hat could be part of your troops identification. On the day of an event, each girl will come with he S.W.A.P.S. and will mingle with other girls, trading her S.W.A.P.S.
S.W.A.P.S. Etiquette
   * S.W.A.P.S. to be traded should be carried in a shoe box, baggie or pinned to your shirt. S.W.A.P.S. that are pinned to someone's hat are generally considered off-limits unless they are offered to you as a trade. 
    * It is considered rude if you refuse to swap with someone who ask you. Be courteous. 
    * If you don't like the item you have been given, or already have an identical S.W.A.P. accept it politely, and give them one of yours with a Girl Scout smile. 
    * ALWAYS say thank you! A Girl Scout is courteous.
    * Never give a swap away that someone gave you.
    * Always have a few extra S.W.A.P.S. on hand for those people who have few or none. 
    * Include the information such as your troop number, city and state on the S.W.A.P. You may also want to mark it with the date or the event name to help identify the S.W.A.P. later on. Tags can be easily made on the computer, cut to size and attached to the pin.
S.W.A.P.S. Don'ts
    * Swaps without a meaning - Should have something to do with the event, with Girl Scouting in general, the troop or about the person who made it.
    * Food items - they can't be kept as keepsakes and they attract bugs and critters when outdoors.
    * Avoid using glass and sharp objects in swaps. 
    * Flimsy swaps - they're heartbreaking for the creator and the recipient. Make sure items are colorfast, the pin is secure and the item can hold up to handling and transport.
    * Leader-made-swaps - items shouldn't be made FOR the girls by their leaders - after all, what would the point be? Swaps should be designed with the age and skill level of the girls making the swaps. Don't give them something they can't do on their own (or without minimal help).

Welcome to our Girl Scout SWAPS Library!


Here you will find pictures, a list of materials needed and directions on how to make all different kinds of Girl Scout SWAPS.
Check back often, we will be adding more.

Pinterest page full of Girl Scout SWAP Ideas


"Sew" Much Fun

Picture
Materials Needed:
Package of mini wooden thread spools, clear contact paper, glue, jewelry craft pin, printed tags (you make on your computer)

Directions:
Type out tags: "Its SEW much fun being a Girl Scout!" Print and cover tags with clear contact paper and cut into strips. Glue end of strip on the back of the spool, along with a pin back. You may cover the spool with colored paper if you choose or decorate with markers.


Troop Number

Picture
Materials Needed:
Craft foam, number beads, tacky glue, jewelry craft pin, 
hemp, wooden or plastic beads

Directions:
Cut a trefoil out of craft foam. Glue troop numbers on to trefoil. Decorate with hemp and beads. Glue pin to back.


Rainbow Seeds

Picture
Materials Needed: 
Mini bag, sticker tag, pony beads, crystal bead, safety pin.

Directions:
Put the beads in the bag. Stick on the tag, add the safety pin and tag with your troop number, ect.

The tag inside the bag reads:  
                                                            Rainbow Seeds Plant after a shower. Also included: 1 cloud seed


Scrapbook in a Bag

Picture
Materials Needed:
mini bag, bits of scrapbook paper, buttons, beads, ribbons (anything 
but the glue!), safety pin

Directions:
Put some scrapbook items in the bag, add the safety  pin and tag with your troop number, ect.




Christmas Cookies

Picture
Materials Needed:
Tan fun foam, assorted colors of felt, mini cookies cutters, glue, 
 safety pins, assortment of seed beads, sequins, and glitter mixed together.

Directions:
Trace the cookie cutter onto the foam and cut it out. Cut the felt smaller than the foam to look like frosting for the cookies and glue it onto the foam. Put the mixed assortment of beads, sequins, and glitter onto a paper plate. Spread glue onto the felt and turn the "cookie" upside down onto the bead  mixture. Attach the pin and tag with your troop number, ect.
These can be made from any cookie cutter shape.


Halloween Ghost

Picture
Materials Needed: 
Cotton balls, glue, googly eyes, mini bags, safety pins

Directions:
Glue the googly eyes onto a cotton ball and place in mini bag. Add safety pin and tag with your troop number, ect.



Candy Corn

Picture
Materials Needed: 
safety pin, 3 white pony beads, 7 yellow pony beads, 11 orange pony beads and some yellow or white gimp.

Directions:
You will need to cut about 18 inches of gimp. String a safety pin onto the gimp. Fold it in half and tie an over hand knot to form a loop with the safety pin in the center of the loop. String the beads on according to the picture. Tie off on each end and you have a candy corn swap. Attach tag with your troop number, ect.


Felt Canoe

Picture
Materials Needed:
felt, tacky glue, marker, safety pin

Directions:

Draw a canoe shape onto a piece of felt. Re-draw it, connecting
the bottoms. Cut out the two halves together, and fold them in half,
matching the edges. Glue the sides together, leaving the top open. Mark "G" and "S", attach a safety pin and tag with troop #, ect.


Bandana

Picture
Materials Needed:        
3-inch square piece of fabric (any color or pattern), 
pony bead (any color), safety pin

Directions:
Cut a 3-inch square piece of fabric. Fold the square in half, forming a triangle. Fold in half again. Pull the end through the pony bead to hold. Attach safety pin and tag with your troop number, ect.


Bedroll

Picture
Materials Needed:
1 piece of felt (any color) cut 2 inches wide by 4 inches long 
2 pieces of thin yarn, about 6 inches long, Elmer’s glue, 1 safety pin

Directions:
With the shorter side facing you, roll the felt up (jelly roll style). Spread a little glue along the end of the felt to secure it. Tie each side of the roll with the yarn, making a bow. Trim yarn to desired length. Attach the safety pin and tag with your troop number, ect.


Fall Wreath

Picture

Materials needed:

25 autumn color tri-beads (red, yellow, orange, rust)
Yellow chenille stem
Small piece of raffia
Safety pin

Directions:
Slide tri-beads onto yellow chenille stem alternating colors. Add safety pin and twist ends to hold. Tie on a piece of raffia. Hang from safety pin and tag with your troop number, ect.


Girl Scout Colors

Picture
Materials needed:
Safety pin
Ribbon (1/16 inch wide) or embroidery floss of every color in the poem below.
Poem below (optional)


 
POEM:
Here is a pin that is special you see. A better Girl Scout it will help you to be. From true blue to sisterly green, Here is what each color means:

Blue – honest and fair
Yellow – friendly and helpful
Pink – considerate and caring
Red – courageous and strong
Purple – responsible for what I say and do
Orange – respect myself and others
Silver – respect authority
Brown – use resources wisely
Green – make the world a better place
Gold – be a sister to every Girl Scout

Directions:
 
Attach each color of the embroidery floss to the safety pin using an overhand knot, attach the poem and a tag with your troop number, ect.


Girl Scout Shapes

Picture
Materials needed:
Fun foam in assorted colors
Small Ziploc bag
Scissors
Hole Punch
Safety pin

Directions:

Cut and/or punch out various shapes such as hearts, triangles, circles, etc. from different color fun foam. Place shapes in a small Ziploc bag. Make a label that says “Girl Scouts come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.” Add troop number and town, if desired. Insert label in Ziploc bag or attach to the outside of the bag with a small safety pin. Add tag with your troop number, ect.


Girl Scout Stars

Picture

Materials needed:

1 coiless safety pin (1-18 inch)
Small brightly colored beads
4 mm jump ring
Foil star (1/2 inch)
Small Safety pin


Directions:
Using the coiless safety pin, put enough beads on to fill one side (about 7 beads depending on size). Put a jump ring on the star, close and slip the jump ring onto the safety pin (should be in the center of the rounded part of the pin). Then fill with more beads, leaving enough room to close. Pinch with pliers so the pin won’t open. Put a small safety pin through the top and add tag with your troop number, ect.


Hearts Across America

Picture
Materials Needed:
Red fun foam
White fun foam
Red, white and blue ribbon (3/8-inch wide) 
Elmer’s glue or hot glue
Safety pin 

Directions:
Cut heart from red fun foam (about 1 ¼ inch wide). Cut smaller heart out of the white fun foam (about ¾ inch wide). Glue white heart onto the red heart. Next cut a piece of ribbon about 6 inches long. Loop the ribbon over as shown and glue together. Next glue the foam hearts into the center of the
ribbon. Hang from safety pin and add tag with troop number, ect.


Make New Friends Pin

Picture
Materials needed:
silver or gold metallic pipe cleaner 6 inches long
6 silver pony beads
6 gold pony beads
Tag, Clear contact paper, Hole punch, Safety pin

Directions:
Slide alternating silver and gold pony beads onto the pipe cleaner. Type out tag: “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.” Cover tag with clear contact paper. Cut out paper strip and punch a hole at one end. Attach by twisting ends of pipe cleaner – fold to back. Attach pin and tag with troop number, ect.


Trefoil Pin

Picture
Materials Needed:
One 1 1/8 inch coiless safety pin
Nine  #0 (7/8 inch, 22 mm) safety pins
Green seed beads
Yellow seed beads

Directions:
Using the 7/8-inch pins thread the beads as follows: 
Pin 1: 9 green seed beads
Pin 2: 9 green seed beads
Pin 3: 3 green, 3 yellow, 3 green
Pin 4: 2 green, 5 yellow, 2 green
Pin 5: 1 green, 7 yellow, 1 green
Pin 6: 2 green, 5 yellow, 2 green
Pin 7: 3 green, 3 yellow, 3 green
Pin 8: 9 green seed beads
Pin 9: 9 green seed beads

Thread all 9 pins onto the 1 1/8 inch coiless safety pin, add tag with troop number, ect.


Triple Heart

Picture
Materials Needed:
Pre-cut foam hearts, three different sizes and colors 
Elmer’s glue
Safety pin
Fine point permanent marker

Directions:
Glue three graduated size hearts of different colors together. Insert safety pin in corner. Add tag with troop number, ect.


Valentine Heart

Picture
Materials Needed:
Red and white fun foam
1/8 inch wide satin ribbon (pink or white)
Elmer’s glue, Hole punch, Safety pin


Directions:

Cut heart shape out of the red fun foam. Cut smaller heart shape out of the white fun foam and glue in the center of the red heart. Make holes around the outside of the red heart with the hole punch. Run a piece of ribbon through the holes and tie a bow at the top. Attach safety pin and tag with troop number, ect.


Girl Scout Kisses

Picture
Materials Needed:
Brown and White fun foam
Small red pom pom (5 mm)
Black wiggly eyes (7 mm)
Fine point permanent Sharpie marker (black or red)
Safety pin
Directions:
Using brown fun foam, cut out the shape of a candy kiss. Glue on 2 wiggly eyes, a small red pom pom for the nose. Draw on a smile with black or red fine point sharpie marker. Cut a strip of white fun foam and write your Troop number on it. Hang from a safety pin.


Fun Foam Flower

Picture
Materials Needed:
Precut fun foam flowers
Precut fun foam centers
Elmer’s glue 
Safety pin

Directions:
Use precut fun foam flowers and centers. Glue together as desired. Hang from a safety pin. Add tag with troop number, ect.


I Love USA Key Chain

Picture
Materials Needed:
One 16-inch piece black 2mm satin cord
1 split ring 25 mm
9 Red pony beads
9 White pony beads
9 Blue pony beads
Plastic ABC beads (square)
Plastic heart bead (square)
Safety Pin

Directions:
Fold satin cord in half. Attach split ring using overhand knot. Next thread on nine pony beads using red, white and blue pattern. Attach the letter A, then S, then U, the heart, and the I. Thread on remaining nine pony beads again using red, white, and blue pattern. Go back through the last bead a second time and make a knot to secure. Add safety pin to split ring and add tag with troop number, ect.
The colors and bead letters can be changed to a Girl Scout theme also.


Silver and Gold Beads

Picture
Materials needed:
1/8 inch wide satin ribbon (10 inches long)
1 metallic gold pony bead (or heart)
1 metallic silver pony bead (or heart)
1 small safety pin


Directions:
Fold ribbon in half. Make a small loop at the top using an overhand knot. Attach pin through the loop and tighten ribbon. Put 1 silver bead and 1 gold bead through both strands of the ribbon. Next take one strand of the ribbon and feed it through the gold bead from the top and out the bottom. Tighten ribbon. Trim ends of ribbon to desired length. Add tag with troop number, ect.