Pet Ghost (Finger Puppet) In A Bag SWAPS

 

Pet Ghost (Finger Puppet) In A Bag SWAPS
“Easy care pet. No food. No water. No litter.”

Materials: cotton ball, two small googly eyes, small plastic jewelry bag, a safety pin.

Also needed: glue

1. Carefully push a finger into the cotton ball without poking a hole all the way through. Aim to shape it like a mini ghost. If needed/desired, glue around any weak spots and/or around the top of the shaped cotton ball to hold its desired shape and allow time to dry.

2. Glue the googly eyes and allow time to dry.

3. When not using your ghost as a finger puppet, carefully flatten and place it inside the bag for safekeeping.

4. Stick the safety pin through the bag to turn into a SWAPS.

This SWAPS is fun because it can be used as an actual (though small) puppet!

This SWAPS ties in wonderfully with at least one Adventure!

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Tiger = Tiger Theater

Tiger Tracker SWAPS or Den Doodle

 Tiger Tracker SWAPS or Den Doodle

Materials: 3D printed pawprint base*, twine or string, small rubber band, pony beads (listed below), and optional safety pin.

Bead Colors (can be revised as desired):

• 3 Black: At-Home Rank Requirements Completed
  (Includes: Cyber Chip, Protect Yourself Rules, and Duty to God Adventure)

• 1 Yellow: Bobcat Rank Completed

• 1 White: First Elective Adventure Completed (Required Elective for Rank)

• 5 Orange: Required Adventures Completed as Den
  (Includes: Games Tigers Play, My Tiger Jungle, Team Tiger, Tiger Bites,
  and Tigers in the Wild Adventures)

• 1 Gold: Tiger Rank Completed

• ⪯12 Red Orange: Elective Adventures Completed

*I designed the model for the Tiger Tracker Base in SketchUp

Scouts add the beads of the appropriate color to their Tracker as they complete requirements for Rank and additional Tiger Adventures during the year. The idea for this tracker is based on an early tradition in Tiger Scouts where they received beads rather than the Adventures/Belt Loops they earn in the current Tiger Scout program.

Note that the At-Home vs. Den Requirements are based on what is scheduled in my Den and you can change or revise the colors to match how your Den completes requirements.

I allowed my Tigers to vote on whether they wanted to keep their Tracker themselves, with the option to wear it on their neckerchief or as a temporary patch on their uniform, OR if they wanted to have their trackers displayed with their Den Flag as a Den Doodle.

This SWAPS can be a great tie-in for the first meeting at the beginning of the year, particularly if you are working on an Adventure like Team Tiger which focuses on being a Tiger Scout.

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Tiger = Team Tiger Adventure, Earning Your Stripes Adventure, or Rank Requirements

Marshmallow Stick SWAPS

 Marshmallow Stick SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: white pony bead, bobby pin, safety pin, glue/hot glue (optional)

1. Slide the bobby pin through the loop of the safety pin so the loop is in the eye of the bobby pin (careful not to let the safety pin slide back off until the bead is secure).
   
2. Push the pony bead over the ball-tipped ends of the bobby pin, you may need to squeeze the ends together to slide it on.
3. Put some glue or hot glue inside the bead and allow it to dry (this step may be optional if your pony bead fits securely on the bobby pin).

Artwork/Trading Card SWAPS

 

Lion Sailor Scout  Art by Me (Elaine Eigel)

Artwork/Trading Card SWAPS Instructions:

Materials: Paper (copy, drawing, colored, etc), lamination/contact paper/shipping tape, safety pin
Also: Pencil/pen/markers and/or crayons (really any art medium), scissors

Optional: Labels for the back of your trading card (https://tinyurl.com/5ep9jyjp), thread and needle, other art supplies/crafting materials for embellishment.

1. Draw your artwork on your chosen paper (may be a cut-shaped paper).
2. Add your signature or label on the back.
3. Seal your artwork inside lamination/contact paper. 
4. Cut excess lamination/contact paper away. If desired, you can leave a border edge (or extra space) that you can pierce the safety pin into without damaging the art.
5. If desired, you can glue/attach embellishments on top of the laminated artwork.
6. Either stick the safety pin directly through the laminate for pinning or sew a thread through the laminate and attach a safety pin by a tied loop to the artwork.

This is a great one to be creative on. You can use any flat, small surfaces such as cardboard thread/embroidery cards or cutouts of cereal boxes, etc, and then seal them in lamination or contact paper. 

Note possibilities of making scrapbook-style themed to year (Lion on my example)

Be mindful of the size. I personally recommend trading card size or smaller (2.5 x 3.5”)

Lamination can also be applied to mini collage works or even favorite small art prints as SWAPS. There are all kinds of things you can laminate and turn into a swap!

Just be clear on artwork that you did not create that you do not take credit for that artwork.

Some contact paper types can start peeling away at the edges before very long, so I recommend ironing the trimmed and finished art on a low setting with your art sandwiched between layers of paper towels or scrap ironable fabric (protect your ironing table and iron from adhesive residue).
Alternatively, you can use other lamination paper or clear packaging tape instead!


This SWAPS can also be a great tie-in for Adventures related to making artwork!

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Tiger = Stories in Shapes

Some Notes About SWAPS

SWAPS of all types!

While handicrafts are the common way to accumulate SWAPS, it is perfectly acceptable to also display buttons, large beads, or turn other small inexpensive trinkets into SWAPS.

You can also easily add some sparkle, stickers, or paint to items like fishing lures or bottle caps for unique, simple SWAPS. It is always ideal to keep SWAPS inexpensive.

Do remember to avoid anything too sharp or any breakable materials like glass when crafting or putting together your SWAPS! Also, be mindful of size. Anything too heavy or big to easily wear as a pin may need to be reconsidered. SWAPS should be safe and easily portable.

Another great practice for SWAPS is to make multiples or copies of handicrafts you enjoy.
For my son, he loves turning perler (fuse beads) designs into SWAPS and will sometimes make copies of a design he especially likes, making them particularly tradable since he has a few!
This can also be something to be mindful of when trading SWAPS, in that, you may be able to replace SWAPS you made and traded away with new ones! 

Pinterest or Google Searches can be a great place to find ideas, you can search things like “smaller perler bead patterns” or “scout swaps” or “mini crafts” for all sorts of inspiration!

SWAPS: Keepers vs Tradables?

While the idea behind SWAPS can be a something to “Shared With A Pal” or “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere” or even just tokens of friendship to SWAP with a friend, it is very understandable that Scouts will make or receive some they wish to keep.

In the spirit of encouraging displaying both keepers and swappers, as it were, I recommend having specific zones for each type, should you have some of both on your hat, bag, vest, lanyard, or wherever you wear your SWAPS!

For example: I wear my SWAPS on a bucket hat. I put my keepers (usually these have sentimental value to me) on the brim of my bucket hat and place all my potential swappable SWAPS on the band or crown areas of the hat!

For you, depending how you display your SWAPS, this may mean having each type on a different strap or side. Something easily able to explain to a friend.

Also, some scouts prefer to only wear/display your keeper SWAPS and carry tradable SWAPS in a bag or box entirely separately. Whatever works for you!

Remember to explain and/or ask before an exchange of SWAPS so you know which SWAPS you and your friend can trade! And speaking of trading:

Code of Conduct for SWAPS Exchange
(AKA Good Social Etiquette Skills to Practice!)

• If you have Keepers as well as Swappers, be kind when explaining which you are willing to trade. You shouldn't refuse an offer to trade if you have SWAPS available to trade.

• Use the Golden Rule and treat the others like you would want to be treated. Trading should be a fun experience for both members of the SWAPS exchange.

• Say a heartfelt “thank you” when you receive SWAPS.

• Never say anything negative about SWAPS you receive.

• When passing SWAPS, make sure the pins are closed so that no one gets stuck.

• Don’t pin your SWAPS onto another person. Allow them or their adult partner to do that.

• Remember SWAPS are intended to change hands! Someone who receives your SWAPS may end up trading them to someone else and vice versa!

• If you see someone with few pins or nothing to trade, remember that you can always offer to simply give them a SWAPS. An Act of Kindness is always welcome!
  
  

Couple Last Tips on Exchanges!

If you are going to an event that you know will have SWAPS exchanging or you would like to pass out SWAPS while you are there, plan ahead! You can do your best to make sure you have time to have one for every participant (and staff member, if applicable).

SWAPS also do not have to be exchanged in person! If you have a pen pal or even just want to mail a friend a SWAPS or two, go for it!

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)

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!

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).