Girl Scout SWAP GuideHoliday & Seasonal SWAPS

Girl Scout Troop 2702Volume 1, Issue 1

GSTROOP2702.WEBS.COMLindsay Foster & Rachelle Whiteman, Co-Leaders

Table of Contents

• The Purpose of SWAPs

• What is a SWAP?

• SWAP Etiquette

• SWAP Tips

• Holiday & Seasonal SWAPs

The Purpose of SWAPS

SWAPs should tell something about the givers or their group (girls may include their address or email information so others can write to them) and represent the givers' country, community, or local Girl Scout council.

What is a SWAP?• There are several meanings for the term,

but these are some of the most common ones:

– Special Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned

– Shared With A Pal– Sharing With a Purpose

• It is likely that the idea for Swaps came from the potlatch ceremonies of the Native American Tribes of the Northwest coast. Potlatch ceremonies involved the trading of colored feathers as a sign of friendship. The ceremony is said to have developed in remembrance of two Native American girls who gave colored feathers plucked from a magic bird to colorless birds, thus ensuring all birds would have colored

• feathers.

Potlatch ceremonies commemorated their gift and were held in conjunction with other family and tribal celebrations, such as births and marriages. The traditional invitation to a potlatch ceremony was the arrival of a messenger bearing the news and a bundle of sticks, one stick for each participant expected to attend.

• It is believed that the very first SWAP was exchanged by Lord Baden Powell at a Jamboree in 1924.

“Girl Scouts began trading SWAPS at the National

Roundups.”

SWAP Etiquette

• 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.• Do not include your entire name on your SWAP.

Instead use first name/last initial, a Troop number, or first initial/last name.

SWAP Tips• Think about the kind of swap

you 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 your 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

• Note: Do not use food materials that will disintegrate or attract insects or animals. Also do not use liquids in SWAPs.

Author’s Note:This presentation is not meant to

be comprehensive as a guide to SWAPs making.

Please use your imagination and adapt the ideas to your personal

tastes.

Peppermint Candy SWAPMaterials:

• Poker chip (white or red)

• Permanent marker, red

• Craft foam, white

• Glue

• Clear/transparent gift basket wrap

• Clear hair elastics

• Safety pin

• Scissors

Instructions:

To make white with red stripes: Using the red permanent marker, color or draw swirls on the white poker chip. Cut out a rectangle (approximately 4”x2.5”) and place the poker chip in the middle. Wrap and twist the ends as if sealing in a candy. Seal the ends using the clear hair elastics. Attach the pin under one of the elastic wraps. (It will tear through the clear basket wrap so you need something sturdier.)

•To make red with white stripes: Using the white craft foam, cut out a circle the same size as the red poker chip. Cut out small crescent shapes out of the white craft foam and glue onto the red poker chip. Cut out a rectangle (approximately 4”x2.5”) and place the poker chip in the middle. Wrap and twist the ends as if sealing in a candy. Seal the ends using the clear hair elastics. Attach the pin under one of the elastic wraps. (It will tear through the clear basket wrap so you need something sturdier.)

Reindeer SWAPMaterials:

• 3 mini craft sticks per SWAP

• Small or mini red, pink, brown, or black pom-pom

• Hot glue

• Wiggle eyes

• Brown chenille stem/pipe cleaner

• Safety pin

Instructions:

Hot glue the three mini craft sticks into a triangle. With one point of the triangle facing down, glue the pompom and two wiggle eyes at the base. Cut the chenille stems into sections (uneven is ok) and twist together to form “antlers”. Attach antlers at the top of the triangle and then attach safety pin to antlers.

A red or pink pom-pom makes a “Rudolph” reindeer. Brown or black pom-pom makes a “regular” reindeer.

Tri-Bead Wreath & Candy Cane SWAP

Materials:

• Tri-Beads (green, red, white, and/or clear)

• Chenille stem or pipe cleaner

• Scissors

• Low temp glue gun

• Safety pin

Instructions:

To make candy cane:Cut a pipe cleaner in half. String on 2 clear, 2 red, 2 clear, 2 red until you have 20 beads strung. Bend ends over and trim. Shape into a candy cane. Attach safety pin.

To make wreath:Cut a pipe cleaner in half. String on 3 green, 1 red, 3 green, 1 red until you have 28 beads strung. Form into a circle, pushing first end into the last bead to hold the circle shape. Bend ends over and trim. Attach safety pin.

Texas Snowman SWAPMaterials:

• White Card Stock

• Low Temp Glue Gun

• Mini top hat (optional)

• Fabric scraps

• Black pony beads

• Orange craft foam

• Brown chenille stems/pipe cleaner or small sticks.

• Scissors

Instructions:

Cut pipe cleaner into four pieces and shape into two arms. Cut a rectangle scrap of fabric to be scarf. Squeeze out a puddle of hot glue or tacky glue on a piece of white card stock. You have to work fast with hot glue and place pieces with tweezers or a toothpick. While glue is still west press in a mini top hat, a craft foam nose, wiggle eyes, fabric scrap, pipe cleaner arms and black pony beads for coal buttons. Cut card stock around snowman. Attach pin to scarf.

Mini Beach SWAPMaterials:

• Shelf paper/material

• Sandpaper

• Party drink umbrella

• Clear packing tape

• Safety pin

Instructions:

• Cut a 1"x 1.5" strip rectangle of sandpaper. Cut a 1"x2" strip of blue shelf paper material. Cut the sandpaper in half lengthwise. It is alright if it is not straight as it will appear to be a more "natural" beach. Lay down a 2x3" strip of strapping tape non-sticky side down. Place the sandpaper at the bottom edge of the tape. Layer the shelf paper material on top. Fold the strapping tape in half lengthwise to seal the beach scene shut. Using your safety pin, poke an entry and an exit hole for the party drink umbrella. Thread the wooden toothpick end through the holes and then cut off the sharp tip. Attach safety pin through shelf material and packing tape.

Spring Chicken SWAPMaterials:

• Plastic yellow Easter egg or Styrofoam egg painted yellow

• Black permanent marker

• Wiggle eyes

• Yellow felt OR Yellow feathers

• Orange craft foam

• Low temp hot glue and glue gun OR crafter’s glue

• Safety pin

Instructions:

Cut a small triangle from orange craft foam for beak. Cut two larger triangles for feet and cut out wedges to form the “toes”. If you are not using feathers, cut out a heart shape in yellow craft felt then cut into symmetrical halves (vertical cut from center point of heart) to make wings. Using glue, attach beak, wiggle eyes, feet, and wings. If you do not have wiggle eyes, you can draw on eyes using a black permanent marker. Attach safety pin to wing.

Glue Ghost SWAP

Materials:

• Low temp glue gun

• Wax paper

• Black seed beads or mini pony beads

• Safety pin

Instructions:

Use a low temp glue gun a squeeze out a ghostly outline. Fill in the middle. Let dry, peel off. Drop on two black mini pony beads for eyes. Trim up with scissors.