2. 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.
3. 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.
5. Tips for SWAPS Givers
Girls 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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!
12. 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
