SWAPSSpecial WhatchamacallitsAffectionately Pinned Somewhere

SWAPS are a Girl Scout craft in which girls trade with each other to promote friendship. When girls swap their pins, they make new friends, and that is what Girl Scouting is all about!

A great time to do some Girl Scout SWAPS is right before an event or camping trip where there will be others to trade some SWAPS with.

SWAPS Basics

SWAPS should:Tell something about the givers or their troop/group. (Girls may include their address or email information so others can write to them.)

Represent the givers' country, community, or local Girl Scout council.

Example SWAPS

Tips for SWAPS GiversGirls should:

Think about the kind of SWAP they would like to receive from someone else.

Try not to spend a lot of money. Consider making something from donated or recycled material.

Be creative, and take time to make hand-crafted SWAPS. (Include directions for making the SWAP if it is a craft project that can be replicated.)

Try to have one SWAP for each event participant and staff member.

Plan ahead so there's time to make the SWAPS.

Make SWAPS that can be worn, used, or displayed.

Ask their troop/group or service unit for help, if needed, in putting SWAPS together.

Make SWAPS portable. Remember: SWAPS must be carried or shipped ahead to the event, where other girls will be carrying them away.

What to Do With SWAPS

Girls can:Include SWAPS with thank-you letters to sponsors and those who helped them go to a travel or destinations event. Make a display or scrapbook for travel night or troop visits. Keep SWAPS in a memory box or shadow box. Make a quilt, using SWAPS. Put pins and patches on a hat or jacket. Start a council best-of-SWAPS collection.

SWAPS Safety and Etiquette

Girls should:Never refuse to swap with another person.

Swap face-to-face, especially if exchanging addresses or email information.

Avoid using glass and sharp objects in SWAPS.

Follow all Safety-Wise guidelines.

Avoid using food products, unless they are individually wrapped.

Paper Star SWAPS

You will need:

Gift Wrap or Other Paper

Scissors

Glue Stick

Safety Pin or Jewelry Craft Pin and Low Temperature Glue Gun

Instructions:Cut paper into 1" or smaller squares. For each star you will need eight squares. Lay a square on the table with the corner at the bottom and the fold going up the middle. Fold the left corner and then the right corner until they meet in the center. Crease the folds. Repeat for all eight squares.

Note: points shown are much bigger then the ones you will be using for SWAPS.

Lay one point sideways. Take another point and line up the bottom left edge with the other point's center fold. Use a glue stick to glue the point in place.

Glue the other points the same way. When you get to the last point, tuck it underneath the first point before you glue it.

Hot glue a jewelry craft pin to the back or push a safety pin through one of the points, add your name and you are ready to swap SWAPS!

SWAPS websites

Scouting Web http://www.epilogsys.com/ScoutingWeb/Program/CraftsSwaps.htm

Making friends http://www.makingfriends.com/scouts/swap_scouts.htm

Girl Scout SWAPS http://www.gsswaps.net/

How to make Girl Scout SWAPS http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Girl-Scout-SWAPS