Bubble Wand SWAPS

 

Bubble Wand SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: 4-inch pipe cleaner, 5 Perler (AKA fuse beads or iron beads) beads, a safety pin

1. Make a loop with roughly ⅔ of the pipe cleaner and twist it around the handle, making a bubble wand shape.
2. Slide the Perler beads onto the pipe cleaner, ideally covering the joining twist of the pipe cleaner with at least one bead. You will need extra pipe cleaner on the end to bend over the safety pin, so if you need to use less than the five beads suggested to have enough pipe cleaner to bend, do not worry! 
3. Slide the loop of the safety pin through the pipe cleaner. 
4. Bend the last bit of pipe cleaner back and twist enough to keep the safety pin in place.

This SWAPS ties in nicely with bubble activities with your Den or Pack as the wand can actually be used to make small bubbles!

Additionally, I know at least one Adventure where it can be a great tie-in craft!

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Lion = Build It Up, Knock It Down Adventure (Outing Bubble Play)

Perler Lion Scout SWAPS

 

Perler Lion Scout SWAPS Instructions:
(Perler Beads AKA Iron Beads or Fuse Beads)

Materials: Perler Pegboard (at least 10 x 14), Perler Beads (6 black, 8 blue, 18 white, 24 brown, 52 yellow), jewelry/wire loops (2-3 or as desired), safety pin
Also needed: Glue Gun, equipment/materials to iron Perler Beads

1. Follow the pattern below to create your Lion Scout.
2. Follow instructions/method for your Perler/Fuse Beads to iron your Lion Scout. (This step may require adult or adult assistance as needed)
   
3. Use a glue gun to reinforce the diagonals that can read either as neckerchief tails or legs (glue can be faintly seen in the sample image above).
4. Use jewelry loops to attach the safety pin to the finished Lion Scout. I used a jump ring to puncture and loop through one of the top melted beads, then used a smaller split ring to attach the safety pin to the jump ring.

((Note: Pattern from a design found on Pinterest))

Note that, as in the sample picture, it is very easy to make little variations on this design to be unique.

Perler designs are probably something I will come back to, and they are an excellent option for a scout to make many copies of a favorite design (either from a pattern or a unique design) that can be perfect for trading!

Clothespin Car SWAPS

Clothespin Car SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: (mini) wooden clothespin, 2 twist ties, 4 matching buttons, 2 pieces of drinking straw (1/2” for mini clothespin), thread (~4”), safety pin
Also needed: scissors, glue or glue gun, and paint/decorations

1. Paint and decorate clothespin as desired. Allow to dry.
2. Insert one of the twist ties into a hole in one button from back to front. Thread about an inch or so through a second hole and back to the other side of the button. Twist the two pieces at the back of the button tightly. Thread one of the straw pieces onto the twist tie. Thread the open end of the twist tie through a hole in the second button, then thread it back through the second hole and twist together like you did before. Trim any excess twist tie as needed. Repeat this process for the remaining pair of buttons.
3. Thread the string through the hole in the safety pin and thread through the spring of the clothespin. Tie the safety pin to the side of your car. Trim extra string as needed.
4. Open the clothespin and place the straw from one set of wheels in the hole of the clothespin opening. Close the clothespin. Hopefully, the clothespin will not completely flatten the straw and the twist tie should be able to turn freely inside the straw.
5. Add a dab of white glue to the back of the clothespin near the spring. Insert the second set of wheels into the handle end of the clothespin and push it toward the spring into the glue. Allow to dry.
6. Decorate finishing touches, such as coloring over showing twist ties, as desired.

Colors of scouting/rank, along with details such as troop number or Den number, can tie in well with this craft. You can also consider stickers, decoupage, or other decoration materials.

This SWAPS ties in wonderfully with the annual tradition of the Pinewood Derby!
For young scouts, this one may be tricky and require the assistance of an adult partner, but the results are very popular.

Additionally, I know at least one Adventure where it can be a great tie-in craft!

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Lion = On My Mark Adventure

Candy Cane SWAPS

Candy Cane SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: One red and one white pipe cleaner each 4", a safety pin

1. Begin to twist red and white pipe cleaner together. 
2. Thread the safety pin onto one of the pipe cleaners after two twists and twist the rest of the length of the pipe cleaners together. 
3. When done, you should be able to form a mini candy cane shape, with a safety pin near the top of the candy cane crook. 

An excellent craft to make around Christmas time!

Name and Feather SWAPS

Name and Feather SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: Alphabet beads spelling name, 6" sparkly pipe cleaner,  2 feathers, 2 ribbons 4" long, pony beads (1 black or brown, 6 colored), 24" hemp cord, a safety pin

1. Lay down two feathers on top of each other, lay ribbon (if pointed side on the ribbon, face point toward quill tip), and lay pipe cleaner on top with all items lined up at the end of the quill. 
2. Hold your stack tight and (quill side) push everything through the black pony bead.
3. Thread the safety pin through your hemp cord and tie it in the middle of the cord. Tie a second knot if desired.
4. Tie hemp cord around the bundle, right under the black pony bead. The safety pin should now be secured under the black bead.
5. String three colored beads through both strands of hemp cord. String name on strands. String three more colored beads. On the last bead, loop cords around the bead and string again! 
6. Tie a knot in cords.
7. Twist or bend the pipe cleaner into a fun shape, spiral, or zigzag. 
8. If desired, put glue inside the black pony bead to secure items.

This SWAPS is an excellent one to tie into Scouting/Rank color themes. For example, in my sample above, I used colors of gold/tan, blue, and yellow for Lions!

Bed Roll SWAPS

Bed Roll SWAPS Instructions

Materials: 2 pieces of felt or fabric (2"x4"), 2 pieces of yarn or ribbon (5" each), a safety pin

1. Lay two pieces of felt on top of each other. Roll them up tight. 
2. Thread safety pin loop through one yarn before tying.
3. Tie with yarn near each end to resemble a sleeping bag. 
   

This SWAPS is a great craft during a campfire or campout meeting with your Pack or Den.
It is also excellent for young cub scouts to practice tying basic knots!
Consider making the bedroll in scout/rank colors or use scrap fabric (thick fabric is ideal).

First Aid Kit SWAPS

 

First Aid Kit SWAPS Instructions

Materials: film canister, thread/string ~4" long, safety pin, white sticker label, band-aids, alcohol prep pads (or other small first aid items)

Also needed: needle, red marker or crayon, glue gun (optional)

1. Thread string through the loop of the safety pin, tie it in the middle of the string.
2. Attach the safety pin to the lid of the film canister by sewing the string into the lid.
   An adult partner may assist/do this step as needed. It may help to pre-puncture the lid with a larger needle and/or do one thread at a time.
3. Knot string inside the lid of the film canister and make sure it is secured in place. You may use hot glue to glue the knot to the inside (adult assistance as needed).
4. Draw a red cross on the white label sticker
5. Attach the sticker to your film canister
6. Fold and roll medical wipes and band-aids and insert them inside your film canister.

This SWAPS ties in nicely with many Adventures related to Scouting Essentials as one of the essential items is a First Aid Kit.

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Lion = Mountain Lion Adventure
Tiger = Tigers In The Wild Adventure