Ten Holiday Girl Scout SWAP Ideas

Besides Thin Mints and making S'mores, SWAPS are the biggest thing in Girl Scouts these days. SWAPS, which stands for Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Placed Somewhere, are just that-little things that your scouts can make, swap, and pin on hats or their uniform. With the holidays approaching, here are some fun (and easy) holiday SWAPS you can make with your troop this season.

When you begin to make SWAPS, there are a few "rules" to keep in mind. First, is to keep your SWAPS simple. You want to make a large quanity of them and you want your girls to be able to make them without a lot of frustration. Second, when you make SWAPS, it is always a good idea to include a safety pin and a little tag with your troop information and a date. This helps other troops remember where the swap came from. Last of all, making swaps should be fun!

1. Fall into Scouts: For this swap, all you need are a few artificial fall colored leaves, some googly eyes and glue. Cut off the leaves and glue two eyes on each one. Pin a tag that reads: Fall into Scouts on each one.

2. Indian Corn: You will need half of a pipe cleaner, raffia and tri-beads in fall colors. Start by bending on end of your pipe cleaner so that the beads will not fall off. Then, thread the beads using alternating colors on the pipe cleaner. Stop when you have about ½ at the top of the pipe cleaner. Bend this down to keep the beads on. Now, bend the whole pipe cleaner in half so it looks like two ears of Indian corn. Tie on a piece of raffia and add a safety pin.

3. Mini Placemats: For each placemat, cut a small rectangle shape out of orange or red construction paper. Use your thumb to make a print in the middle and draw on feathers to resemble a turkey. Write your troop number at the top and cover between layers of clear contact paper.

4. Mini Cornucopia: Take a brown pipe cleaner and twist it so that it resembles a cornucopia shape. Use other pipe cleaners to twist into fruit or vegetable shapes and glue inside.

5.Indian Headband: Use two inches of brightly colored ribbon and hot glue into a ring. Use several small feathers to glue to the back.

6. Felt Stocking: Use red craft foam or red felt to cut out little stocking shapes. Glue cotton balls to the top to resemble white fur. Add a safety pin and a your troop info. You might even add your troop number on the stocking.

7. Mini Snowman Kit: Purchase small zipper style baggies at your local craft store. In each one, add the following: a scarf made of felt-about 3 inches long-cut fringe on the end, two very small twigs for arms, two googly eyes and one carrot nose cut out of orange craft foam.

8. Jingle Bell Wreath: Cut a pipe cleaner in half and string small bells on the pipe cleaner. Close at the top and add a holiday bow.

9. Holiday Stone: Purchase small clear flat glass stones. Print several holiday pictures out on thick card stock paper. Make sure the images are small enough to fit on the stone. Cut the image out and glue onto the marble. You will have to put the glue on the image for it to show through. Glue a pin on the back.

10. Gingerbread Man: Cut a gingerbread man shape out of brown craft foam. Decorate with white paint, adding buttons, eyes and a mouth. Glue a ribbon on the top for pinning.