How to Create Your Own Girl Scout Trading Pins
Girl Scouts of America is a national organization that promotes learning, leadership, friendship, self-discovery and well-being for girls from preschool to high school. When girls in one troop interact with girls from other troops, they exchange SWAPS, or Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Each girl makes her own SWAPS to exchange. SWAPS can consist of any material and take any shape, so girls can be creative. The only requirement for SWAPS is that they have pins glued to them so that recipients can affix them to hats, clothes or bags.
Instructions
-
-
1
Talk with fellow Girl Scouts, your troop leader and parents of Girl Scouts to get ideas for your SWAPS. Girls who have experience making and exchanging SWAPS will be able to show you SWAPS they have made as well as ones they have received. There are also websites, such as scoutswaps.com, that feature photos of SWAPS.
-
2
Draw a picture of what you want your SWAPS to look like to help you conceptualize them. To make SWAPS that feature your photo on a cut-out flower background, draw a flower shape in a desired color and draw a circle in the middle to represent your photo.
-
-
3
Select and gather materials for your SWAPS. For the flower SWAPS, use felt for the flower and print out photos onto glossy photo paper.
-
4
Cut out flower shapes from the felt. Cut out your photo from the paper in a circle shape. Glue your photo in the center of each flower and glue pins to the backs of the flowers.
-
5
Ensure that you have made enough by asking your troop leader how many girls she expects you will meet at your exchange. Write your first name and troop number on the back of your SWAPS.
-
6
Make more SWAPS if you run out. Try variations on your original flower design by gluing beads, glitter or buttons to the flowers or by using different fabric.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
