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"Swaps" compiled from the GSUSA message board in early 1996:

So far as I've been able to find out, swaps started at camps as a way for
girls to trade names and have momentos of their experiences.  I don't know of
any books on swaps, but if anyone else does, sure would like the title :)
     There is no single swap.  There are no rules regarding material use or
item made.  Generally they are small enough to pin onto a hat or vest
(called, appropriately enough, swap hats/swap vests).  Girls LOVE to make
them and trade them.  Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
1) s'more swaps
     Cut two 1" squares of tan felt (graham crackers)
     On top of one, put a slightly smaller square of brown felt (chocolate)
     On top of that, stretch out a cotton ball (marshmallow)
     Put other tan felt square on top.
     Can glue the layers together or take tiny stitches (to look like cracker
holes)
     Attach small safety pin to one corner.
2) p-nut baby
     With glue gun, attach two wiggle eyes to a peanut.
      Cut triangle of white cloth to use a diaper and attach with glue gun.
     Glue on pin back.
When I do swaps with the girls, I try to think of something that corresponds
with what we are doing.  So camping things when we go camping or for skills
day, rainbows for bridging, etc.  But this, of course, is not required.
Mary Harrison
Jr. Troop 466

Subj:  re; swaps
Date:  96-01-15 18:02:23 EDT
From:  KATKUG
Here is a really easy, fun swap.
Bed Rolls:
you need;  two pieces felt 2" x 4"
2 pieces of yarn 5-6", a safety pin, and Elmer's glue
Lay the pieces of felt on top of eachother.  Roll them up tight.  Tie with
yarn at ends.
attach pin with glue.
 A Cadette Girl Scout ( Sunflower) camp name
    "California, USA"

Re:Swaps
Date:  96-01-31 21:53:19 EDT
From:  JHICKOX159
When I attended some neighborhood meetings in Fl , I was introduced to swaps.
they are small simple craft items used to pin on jackets, hats, etc.using a small safety
pin. THEY ARE NOT OFFICIAL  AND CANNOT BE WORN ON ANY OFFICIAL
UNIFORM. The girls  swap them at camporee, etc. I was told it is really neat if you do
something that relates to your girls interest. ex. canoe if your girls  like
to canoe or about your local interests.

Subj:  Re:Swaps
Date:  96-02-01 13:25:38 EDT
From:  SSandS920
Hello Mamanatee!  SWAPs, as I learned it, means Share With A Pal.  Not just
the girls share them...adults love them too!!  SWAPs are a little something
that you make that can be traded or "SWAPed" with others.  SWAPs have a
safety pin, clothes pin or string so as to allow the SWAP's attachment to
something.  Some troops have SWAP hats, others have friendship knotted
necklaces, others have simple thick yarn necklaces and some just attach them
to their patch jacket.  Usually the SWAP has something written on or attached
to it to denote the giver and/or the event given at.  SWAPs can be for
whatever reason you chose.  Here's some examples: Thinking Day-A shrink art
flag from the country your troop decides to study (punch the hole before you
shrink it!!), a camping event-each scout makes a swap representing her camp
name, your's might be made from grey fun foam cut out in the shape of a
manatee , Be A Reader event-a green packing foam s-shaped peanut with wiggle
eyes attached to make it look like a bookworm.  At a HGGO III event one
participant made a little 1-1/2 inch square dunk bag using netting with a
thread for the drawstring, fun foam for a plate and an odd shaped bead cut in
half for the cup-It was adorable!  The point is just to have fun with your
creativity and use a whole range of items to create something that you can
create a lot of at a reasonably low cost (remember, some events may have
troops that have only one type of SWAP between all the girls and the leaders
and some troops may have a different SWAP offered by each girl and adult-you
need to have enough SWAPs to swap).    If you need some more ideas--just
Email me.  SSandS920  :}

Subj:  Re:Swaps
Date:  96-02-01 13:51:49 EDT
From:  SSandS920
Hello Mamanatee (again)!  I forgot to mention to keep in mind where you are
handing out SWAPs. A Hersheys Kiss and Hug wrapped in a piece of red plastic
wrap with the attached tag reading "A Hug and a Kiss to a great leader" is
really cute, but not very cute given at a camping event.  It's easy to forget
to detach it from the SWAP hat and your tent becomes a far too interesting
scent to a neighborhood bear.  I have also seen camp SWAPs with varnished
jelly beans and spray painted popcorn.  Believe it or not, an animal can
still smell the food!  Here's another thought...A wonderful Day Camp leader I
know has the camp name Red.  She gives out Big Red gum sticks with a safety
pin poked through one end.  The girls loved it, but me as a Mom had no
appreciation two years later when we got into her precious SWAP box and
discovered a whole now ecosystem!  *shudder*  Have fun!   :}

Subj:  Re:recyclable swaps - puzzle
Date:  96-02-09 13:43:10 EDT
From:  NagiOlowan
Yep!!
My girls did this when they were second grade brownies.  Collect old puzzles
being thrown away.  Take pieces of the puzzles and paint them to look like
"critters", etc.  Glue pin backs on the backside to wear for fun.  We even
had one girl who painted the pieces to look like "worry dolls" and turned
several into a barette!
YIS
NagiOlowan, host for GSUSA Board on Scouting Online

Subj:  Re:recyclable swaps
Date:  96-02-10 02:13:35 EDT
From:  KayDDS
Ever try the styrofoam hat?  Take a styrofoam cup, place it on cookie sheet
in oven (400), watch it!  It will shrink and shring into a little hat!  Great
little swap!  It only takes a minute or so, so watch it closely.  KayDDS

Re:Swaps
Date:  96-02-10 02:29:16 EDT
From:  Highqueen
Well, now that you've been flooded with "SWAP talk", have to add my two
cents. When I joined Blue Spruce SU in Mile Hi Council back in '91, my troop
did a nifty craft while hosting a Rendezvous - blue-jean bags. Great for
toting stuff around camp, and mine has swaps all around the waist and
pockets.
A few pointers from me: I DO NOT reccomend those cute little paper fans for
swaps, since they get crushed very easily. Also, one of the most memorable
swaps I have is a felt version of a troop's crest with the event name and
date on one of those clothing labels on the back.
Love and Light,
Melissa, Senior Troop 123, Mile Hi Council

Subj:  Re:recyclable swaps
From:  SSandS920
1.  STYROFOAM MEAT AND FISH TRAYS act like Shrink Art.  Cut and color them
first and then place in oven and shrink.
2.  FILM CANISTERS  (try Sam's Club and Price Club...they always have
millions of them) can be made into an Oscar the Grouch SWAP just by using a
green pom pon glued to the cannister and the lid glued on top of the pom pon
like a hat.
3.  Try using those SMALL PAPER CUPS used for catsup in fast food places (
ie: Wendys).  You pull apart the sides and the cup opens up into a flower
that can be decorated.
4.  How about using STRAWS cut up with wiggle eyes to become worms?
5.  COMMUNION CUPS can be turned into sundaes with pom pon balls and a coffee
stir stick as the straw.
6.  TOOTHPICKS can be turned into miniature God's Eyes.
7.  BOTTLE TOPS and FLIPS TOPS FROM SODA CANS can be glued together and
sprayed black to become little frying pans (don't forget to paint in the
fried eggs!).
8.  PLASTIC MILK BOTTLE LIDS can be turned into a picture frame just by
gluing a picture off of used GIFT WRAP or WALLPAPER into the center.
9.  Cut up the PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES  into the shape of little sunglasses and
glue colored celophane to one side.
10. Turn clothes pins into works of art buy gluing collages of PLASTIC SODA
6PAK HOLDERS that have been cut up and spray painted, WALLPAPER, PUZZLE
PIECES... lots of things-just add color and glitter to any piece of trash!
                                                        Enjoy your SWAPing!!
  Write me anytime for an idea!

 Subj:  Re:Swaps
Date:  96-02-13 23:58:27 EDT
From:  DLOR9
last year as brownies our troop made swaps for a halloween camporee we had
over the oct 31st weekend...we used brown satin ribbon, about 3" long, which
we looped one end over the other, glued orange pasta pumpkins to the middle,
wrote "brownie troop #49" with gold pen on the ends and attached safety pins
to the back to hold onto vests. we prepared the ribbon beforehand (some moms
did this) and had the girls do the rest...they were beautiful!
dlor/jr troop #49-tropical florida

Subj:  Re:recyclable swaps
Date:  96-02-14 00:04:58 EDT
From:  DLOR9
a couple of years ago our brownies (now jrs) made earrings and pins using
puzzle pieces theu had gathered from old puzzles they were "too old" to play
with. they also painted, glittered and glued things to the pieces...these
were such a hit with their ungirlscout friends that several of them,
including my daughter, started selling them for a quarter ea pin and $.50 an
earrings set!!
dlor/jr troop #49-tropical florida

Subj:  Re:Swaps
Date:  96-02-17 01:08:32 EDT
From:  AE GS
Hi Brownie leader I am new to AOL and to the internet for that fact.  I've
palyed before but now I have found a place where my hours will be spent.
Swaps could be a various number of things.  I saw them being used in a
thinking day adventure a couple of years a go.  Use your iminagtion it works
great but it works better if the girls use theirs.  :)  (smile)

Subj: Swaps
Date:  96-02-17 12:27:10 EDT
From:  RuthI
Here is a cheap and easy swap------
Stick clear contact paper on top of a sheet of wrapping paper or cloth
remnant that has many  pictures in the theme of your choice.  Cut  out the
pictures in the shape of your choice.  Use a Sharpie pen to write your troop
name, date, event etc on top side of the swap. Other pens will smear on the
slick contact paper surface.  Put a safety pin through the top of the swap
and you are done.
As an example:Our troop is going to an overnight with a Little Camp on the
Prairie Theme.  We found wrapping paper with boots and hats.  For very little
money we made 150 round pins each with a boot or a hat. It is very easy for
the girls. Each girl completed at least 10 swaps in an hour.
                                                               Enjoy!
Ruth

Subj:  Re:  Swap Ideas
Date:  96-02-18 23:12:50 EDT
From:  Occamrazr
My daughter's Junior troop made horse heads out of pecans to send to a troop
in Russia--glued on wiggle eyes, strips of colored felt for bridle, brown
felt ears and forelock, added pin back and drew on mouth.
  They also made Baba Yaga heads for Thinking Day out of walnuts, wiggle eyes,
purple fimo clay witch noses, and drew on red lips.  Then they added a bit of
cotton for hair and a 1" strip of fabric knotted in the middle as a head
scarf.
   Take a film cannister and poke a small hole in the lid.  Insert a piece of
plastic lacing and knot on the inside of the lid so a loop extends up from
the top.  Put a bandaid, folded kleenex, etc. in the cannister and attach to
hat or vest.  Makes a great emergency kit for hikes, camping, etc.

Subj:  Re:Dinasaur swaps
Date:  96-02-23 22:33:33 EDT
From:  Annierap
Use the air dry play dough and make bones for necklaces. Shape bones and
leave holes for stringing and also make dinosaur teeth. Because the clay is
dingy white there is no painting involved.

Subj:  NATIVE AMERICAN SWAPS
From:  NagiOlowan
Hi, This is JUST an idea and NOT authentic... just in the spirit, so to speak.
Turtles have significance in most NA cultures... Soooo... why not fashion a
small turtle out of felt.. Make it primitive and let them use a paint pen or
sharpie marker to do a kind of .. spiral shape on the shell.  Hook a safety
pin on and when they trade them, they can say, "This turtle is the symbol of
long life to the Native Americans, and my friendship with you." :)
Just an idea...
Nagi

Subj:  Re:NATIVE AMERICAN SWAPS
Date:  96-02-28 21:50:52 EDT
From:  TeamKrutz
Make small teepees out of thin sticks and brown parcel paper. HAve the girls
draw on the papaer first!!!
Team Krutz

Subj:  Re:re:swaps
Date:  96-03-04 18:10:49 EDT
From:  SoSueMe1
When we attended a weekend camp this summer, we received swaps made from
jingle bells (not the bell-shaped kind, the round kind).  The girls had
decorated each bell to look like a rabbit (felt ears, whiskers, and googly
eyes).  Then they inserted a safety pin into the hook on the top of each bell
so that it could be used as a pin.  They were really cute (the girls who made
them were 4th grade Juniors).  Also, we made swaps out of shells.  We bought
a big bag of them at the local discount store (I think they cost $2.99 for a
big bag).  Then we glued felt and googly eyes to them.  We hot glued pin
backings or magnets to the back of them to make little shell people.  I love
this forum...I've gotten some great ideas!  Thanks!

Subj:  Re:ecology swap
Date:  96-03-09 18:51:43 EDT
From:  NagiOlowan
Milk carton bird feeders:
Cut a "U" shape in the side of a plastic milk jug.  Bend the flap you just
created up to form an awning.  You may need to "prop" this awning up with two
twigs  Pierce a hole just beneath that opening and "work" a stick in for the
bird to perch on.  Hang the jug by the handle using wire or twine.  Have
enough birdseed pre-measured into ziplock bags to send about 1/4 cup home
with each child.
   You can get the kids to bring in the plastic jugs from home in advance of the
event.  You can probably get your local garden center to donate the seed.

Subj:  Re:ecology swap
Date:  96-03-15 23:02:50 EDT
From:  TeamKrutz
Bat houses are easy to make with scrap lumber!!   Team Krutz

Subj:  Re:Circus swaps
Date:  96-03-17 21:15:58 EDT
From:  TEwan
NanLar: Our day camp did a circus theme last year and our unit made cotton
candy as a swap.  Toothpick stuck (with a little glue) into a pink cotton
ball.  Another unit did same idea only made a white paper cone and lightly
glued pink cotton ball into the top of the cone. Subj:

Subj:  Re:Bead Flag Pin
Date:  96-03-20 15:26:22 EDT
From:  JEM4162

If anyone is looking for the directions on how to make the bead flag pin,
A.C. Moore, a craft store in my area, has a book with a whole bunch of pin
ideas in it.  You can make bead pins for easter, halloween, etc. I will try
to get the exact name and publisher of the book and post it here.
janet(jem4162)

Subj:  Re:Bead Flag Pin
Date:  96-03-20 21:49:57 EDT
From:  DLOR9
if you can get a back issue of americangirl magazine (july/august 1995), page
4 shows the bead flag pin...my daughter and her friends used this as a craft
for her last birthday. you will need 1 med gold safety pin, 8 smal gold
safety pins, 26 sm red beads, 21 sm white beads and 9 blue beads. open a sm
pin and slide beads on in following order: 1 red, 1 wht, 1 red, 1 wht, 1 red,
1 wht, 1 red. close pin. repeat pattern on 4 more pins. on the 6th pin, slide
beads on in this order: 3 blue, 1 wht, 1 red, 1 wht and 1 red. repeat on 2
more pins. open the med pin. slide the loop end of a red and white eaded pin
onto the med pin. push the beaded pin around the loop end of the med pin, to
get it to the other side. slide on the rest of the red and white beaded pins.
add the pins with blue beads last. good luck!
d'lor
jr troop #49
tropical florida

Subj:  Re:Bead Pin Patterns
Date:  96-03-21 19:28:26 EDT
From:  MrsScizzor
I've found a pattern/instructions phamplet:
FRIENDSHIP Safety Pins
book No. 1090
by:  Suzanne McNeill
Design Originals
I have spoken to them on the telephone.  They have other books nos:
#2311 Safety Pin Jewelry (Native American type designs, as well as others.)
They have other bead books available.  Here is their info:
Design Originals
2425 Cullen Street
Fort Worth, TX  76107
Phone: [phone] or [phone].
Should anyone have another friendship bead book -  please post the
information here.   Thanks!

Subj:  Bead Flag Pin
Date:  96-03-23 15:49:35 EDT
From:  JaneAlive
Thanks everyone.  We got the directions from the Bead Fairies who are on the
worl wide web with beading ideas.  Each of my Brownies made one, I put the
little pins on the bigger pin since that is tricky and has to be exactly
right.  The girls then threaded all the beads, I had a large chart which
showed the pattern.  The first two we did we had the blue on the wrong side
but that was easy to fix.  Because my girls are only 1st grader, we used
ebeads, not seed beads. Seed beads look better because you can fit more and
the pattern is better.  But the ebeads worked great and everyone loves them.
You can also do this with flags from other countries but we're going to do
that when we're a little older.  This is a wonderful project.  We're going to
do more and give them as gifts.  The cost for each i negligble if you buy
beads in bulk like we do.  Then, the beads are about $1.75 for 300 of them.

Subj:  Re:Bead Pin Patterns
Date:  96-03-24 03:27:25 EDT
From:  DDCAYMAN
I have a bead book with which shows you how to make a girl and boy out of
beads and wire.  We made little brownies using the girls pattern.  If anyone
is interested, email me and I will share the directions.

Subj:  Re:SWAPS
Date:  96-04-16 17:37:24 EDT
From:  OldYler
KGerren- try poking 3 short pipe cleaners through a pony bead. It makes a
spider.  Add a tag with girl's name & troop # and a safety pin. She can Swap
With A Pal. Each girl should make enough to trade with many girls. It
encourage the girls to meet others and make new friends.

Subj:  Re:SWAPS
Date:  96-04-17 20:52:00 EDT
From:  DMarsh4036
  I  saw a really cute one today. The leader cut 1 1/2 inch pieces of twigs,
that were about 3/8 inch in diameter. The girls glued on small plastic ants,
from a party store (KG Marx) that come about 200 to a bag. Voila--ants on a
log! (like the celery/peanut butter/raisins snack). Then they hot glued a pin
thing on the back.
   Here is one that takes longer and is more complicated--our girls are just
making one for themselves. It is based on the craft article in the
January/Feb issue of American Girl Magazine--pencils covered with embroidery
floss and beads. They show full size pencils, but for a swap we are using a
short golf-type pencil, putting a rubber eraser on the end. Before wrapping
with the floss you tape one side of a safety pin on the pencil, and then
cover the taped side as you wrap with the floss. Each one had some dangly
pieces of floss strung with beads. For some reason my descriptions of craft
things never make much sense but if you look at the magazine it may be clear!
They give detailed directions.
Deb

Subj:  re:swaps
Date:  96-04-19 00:10:36 EDT
From:  TRice28477
  Fill a plastic spoon with plaster of paris.  Let dry completely and then pop
out of spoon.  It is then shaped like a Lady Bug (or even an Easter Egg).
Paint completely red then paint a black area at one end for the face, draw a
black line down the middle and cover with black dots.  glue wiggley eyes on
the face and attach a pin back with hot glue.  Really cute and girls really
enjoy.

Subj:  Native American Swaps
Date:  96-05-01 12:45:21 EDT
From:  NHarrin106
We just had our Brownie Bash with a N.A theme. It was a fantastic day and I
wanted to share my ideas for swaps with all.
Native American Swaps:
CORN:  Cut green felt into ear of corn shape (about 1 1/4 inches long). Use
bead paint in yellow, white, oranges, browns for kernels.
INDIAN BLANKETS: Cut plastic canvas  (any color) into 11/4 inch squares. Use
multi-colored yarn to weave blanket.
TURQUOISE JEWELRY: Cut poster board into 1 inch shapes (circles, diamonds).
Cover with foil. Glue on shell macaroni painted or dyed blue.
BEADED FEATHER: String 3 or 4 pony beads onto ribbon or yarn. Dip tips of
feathers into glue and push up inside beads.
TOMAHAWK: Cut craft stick into 2 inch lengths. Cut brown fun foam or felt
into 2 hatchet blade shapes (about 1 inch long). Glue stick between blades
and tie around with yarn or string.
INDIAN GIRL: Wrap miniature doll clothespin with tan felt, tie with brown or
black yarn for dress. Make a 4-5 inch long braid, tie off both ends. Glue
around top for hair. Draw on face.
SAND ART: Cut 1 1/2 inch circles of poster board. Paint  with thinned glue,
sprinkle on sand.

Subj:  Re:Swaps
Date:  96-05-04 00:03:48 EDT
From:  KATKUG
My daughter recently made ballet slippers that were really cute.  She took 2
wooden craft spoons and glued them together to look like crossed "feet".  She
then glued approx. 1/8" pink satin ribbon in "X" in appropriate place to look
like lace-ups on ballet shoes and finished them off with a pearl at the toe.
A pin on the back would make it easy to attach to something, i.e. use as a
swap.  She was experimenting when she "created" these, but think they'd make
cute dance theme swaps.  Hope day camp is fun!
Cadette Leader from California

MarySubj:  Another SWAP Idea
Date:  96-06-06 23:13:09 EDT
From:  Dawnlee355

This was the absolute favorite SWAP my girls made this year and a big hit at
day camp.

Take 6 inch strip of clear packing tape and sprinkle 1/2 with sequins,
sparkle confetti, glitter or anything shiny (and my Browines do love
sparkles).  Cut a circle of paper approximately 2" in diameter and add
message (ours was "Girl Scouts Sparkle" with troop #) and place face down on
other half of tape.  Fold tape in half end to end to seal in sparkles and cut
around circle leaving about 1/2" border.   This can have lots of cute
application, including fish shapes for "Rainbow Trouts", using silver glitter
and cutting into slipper shapes for a glass slipper, whatever.  It was quick,
cheap, easy enough for first graders and it had plenty of sparkle.

Another favorite was to glue a tuft of cotton on an ice cream sample spoon
and add bugle bead "sprinkles" (more of that sparkle theme).  Happy SWAPing