Pin *S*W*A*P*S*

Contributed by:

Kay Leslie:

** Reindeer puzzle pin: 3 small puzzle pieces painted brown. One piece is the face, the other 2 glued behind like antlers. Googely eyes and red nose painted on tip of face piece. Little holly leaves and berries on one of the antler pieces. Pin glued on back. (Very cute.)
** Snowman pin: Craft stick (or tongue depressor for larger version) painted white. Top tip painted black. Round piece of felt with slit cut in it. Slip over black end. Glue front of felt to stick. Draw with sharpie or paint eyes and mouth black, orange triangle nose. Tie thin strip of fabric or ribbon for scarf and glue pin on back. (We found this in the Dec issue of the American Girl magazine).
** Polar bear pin/necklace: White Sculpti clay cut out with tiny (about 2 in. tall) bear cookie cutter. Before baking stick safety pin into back. Paint on face and little holly leaves and berrieson one leg. Varnish for a shiny look. Add little tiny bow on neck. Run gold cord thru pin for necklace.
** Bead angel pin: Similar concept as Santa necklace. On thin wire string 7 pearl beads, run ends of wire back thru and next row 6 beads. Each row one less bead until just one. String one larger pearl for head. Thing put wires together and string tiny gold beads for halo. Make loop with gold bead part. On separate wire make a circle of gold beads, twist into wings. Glue on back with hot glue and a pin clasp too. (We are going to adapt this idea for a tree ornament. Instead of the pearl beads we got 8mm crystal facet beads. Then we are using a pearl bead for the head. We are using 4 mm gold facet beads for halo and wings. Will glue gold cord on back for hanger.)

Joyce Betz :

(Green) Angel pins
Supplies:*** stryofoam meat trays, ** cookie cutter,** markers** pins**
Use the cookie cutter has a pattern- trace the outlin on the stryofoam- bake in about 350-400 degree oven on old or foil covered cookie sheet. Watch carefully, they melt fast, they will curl up and down, when flat remove from oven. (They can be colored with markers before or after baking, it is a little easier before because they are bigger.) Attach pin to back. Other cookie cutter shapes can be used, but I found found that none of them melt exactly evenly, so you will want to experiment to see which ones work best.

Sally Zeil

Bear Pin Directions:
Materials (per bear):
1 large (about 1 ½" diameter) pompom in black or brown
2 smaller (about ½") pompoms to match the large one
1 even smaller (about ¼") beige or tan pompom for snout
2 googly eyes (I think we used 4mm size)
1 pin back
1 oval of black (or brown) felt to hold pin back to pompom
tiny scrap of black felt for nose, cut into sort of a rounded triangle shape
Glue (we used Tacky glue)

Assembly: Just glue them together, two ears positioned atop head, then eyes (tweezers really help in applying eyes) then snout, then nose on the tip of snout. (Tip: use a good amount of glue (not so much as to be drippy, but more than you would need for paper of the same size) and really squeeze those pompoms to each other when gluing for a bear that will hold together well.) We recommend that a leader pre-assemble the pin back to the felt oval using a glue gun - then the girls can just glue the felt piece to the back of the bear head after the face is done. No two bears come out exactly alike - it’s fun to see all their personalities! We left our bears unadorned, but you could use yarn, ribbon or felt to make hair bows and bow ties to dress them up.
Mouse Pin Directions
Materials (per mouse): This is for a tan mouse; you can make grey ones using black or pink felt parts
** 1 large (about 1 ½" diameter) tan pompom ** 2 googly eyes (we used 4mm size)** 1 pin back **
Brown felt cut into the following shapes: ** 1 oval to hold pin back to pompom ** 2 roughly circular (about ½" diameter) shaped pieces for ears ** 1 long narrow piece for tail (about 2½" to 3" long) ** tiny scrap for nose, cut into sort of a rounded triangle shape **
Glue (we used Tacky glue)
A glue gun was used to attach pin back securely (leader can do this part)
Assembly:
Just glue them together, two ears positioned at top, then eyes (tweezers really help in applying eyes) nose and tail. (Tip: use a good amount of glue (not so much as to be drippy, but more than you would need for paper of the same size. It also helps to "part" the "fur" slightly before trying to insert the ears and tail, you get a better bond that way.) We recommend that a leader pre-assemble the pin back to the felt oval using a glue gun - then the girl can just glue the felt piece to the bottom of the mouse after it is made.
No two mice come out exactly alike - it’s fun to see all their personalities! You might even want to dress up your mouse with a perky bow of yarn, ribbon or felt!

Katherine Faella

Sculpey Pin
description- Pin made of clay commerating the event
materials/equipment needed- Sculpey Clay, oven
instructions- Shape a piece of the clay into a flat circle (like a quarter). Using clay of other colors, make a scene of the event or make letters naming the event. For instance, for day camp last year, my daughter and I made the shape of a lake and a couple of pine trees, then put the letters "GF '96" on the piece. We also made a couple of pins for the leaders with pictures of their camp names, ie, for "Butterfly" we made a butterfly (what else) etc. Bake the pins as directed (usually at 275 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. When cool glue pin backs on (a hot glue gun would work best).

Sue Moore

Do a Good Turn Daily Pin
description- A pin with 7 beads that can be slid along a ribbon to keep track of good deeds.
materials/equipment needed- (for each pin)Ribbon (1/4" will work, but 1/8" is easier for the girls to get through the beads); 7 pony beads (red, yellow, blue, orange, purple, green, white (or clear, or glow-in-the-dark)); saftey pin
instructions- Measure the ribbon to about 20" long. Fold the ribbon in half and tie an overhandknot a little ways down from the top. You need leave only enough room for the safety pin. Slide your first bead on one ribbon strand, then push the other strand up from the bottom of the bead. When you pull the ribbon snug (and with a little judicious adjusting) the bead will be sideways. Continue with the rest of the beads and tie another overhand knot about an inch below the bottom bead. The first few go a little slower because of having to adjust the beads, but then the pace picks up.
To Use:
You pin it on your shirt (a good place to start ), then when you do your good deed for the day you slide a bead to the bottom. By the end of the week, if you've done your good deeds every day, all 7 beads should be at the bottom. The colors are for the 5 worlds of interest, plus green for GS and glow-in-the-dark because it's cool :) Can also use the same concept to make count-down hangers. You will need more beads. The number will depend on how far you want to count down. Count-down hangers can be used to count down to favorite holidays...especially birthdays :)
Valentine Pins
Ages: Any depending on coloring medium used
Supplies: heart shaped candy molds, plaster of paris, bar or safety pins, washable markers, paints, glitter, or other decorations, glue gun or craft glue
Directions: For younger girls (or even older ones to save time), mix Plaster of Paris according to instructions. With a spoon, fill molds with Plaster of paris. Let set till firm. Remove from mold and let dry, preferable 24 hours before coloring them. Older girls may want to mold their own. At meeting, provide plaster hearts and markers, paint, etc. The girls can decorate them in any fashion they prefer. Markers is the least messy, and even the 6th graders have enjoyed using them as you have greater control. Glue pins onto back of heart. If you have some narrow lace, you can glue that onto the back for an extra frill.
Comments: Plaster of paris is cheapest if purchased at the hardware store. You will get at least twice as much for your money as compared to buying it at a craft store. As you probably guessed, this activity can be geared to any occasion or to no occasion whatsoever. If you are quick with the pin backs, and are using bar pins, you can set them into the plaster when it is almost fully set. Make certain to not store these in plastic bags until you are certain they are completely dry. For an interesting effect, color with markers while the plaster is still a bit damp (you can tell because it will feel cool). The colors will bleed into each other, and it looks really cool.

Beverly E. Benner

Shrinky Trinkets
description-pins made from shinkable plastic
materials/equipment needed- sheets of shinkable plastic (clear or opaque, your choice), 1/8" ribbon (approx 9" per swap), one hole punch, small safety pins, permanent marker (color of your choice), tacky glue or low-temp glue.
instructions- Cut 1 1/2" to 2" squares of shinkable plastic (follow directions on package for "roughing" up the plastic before cutting). Write your troop # (or whatever) diagonally (so that the square looks like a diamond), punch a hole in the top corner of the square and shrink according to directions. Tie ribbon through the top into a bow, and glue safety pin on back with glue.

Hat Pins From: Deb Morrow / Foothills Council
Ages: Brownies or Juniors
Supplies: Styrofoam cups, lace, beads, silk flowers, etc.
Directions: Turn oven on to 350 degrees. Take styrofoam cup and turn upside down on foil covered cookie sheet. Watch "cups as they will melt very quickly and always melt into what looks like a hat. Remove from oven. Decorate with beads, sequins, lace. (We used cool glue guns). Glue a pin to the back
Comments: Quick and easy to do. Heat a few extra cups because some will not melt down right. ******************************************************************** Love Stamp Pins or Swaps From: Jo Paoletti
Ages: Age craft is appropriate for: 6+ (able to use scissors accurately)
Supplies: "Love" stamps (from your local Post Office -- 32 cents each!), clear Contact or laminating plastic sheets, small safety pins or pin backs, glue (hot glue works best with pin backs)
Directions: Make a sandwich with one stamp and two stamp-sized pieces of plastic. Trim neatly. For pin, glue pin back to reverse side. For swaps, attach a safety pin to the corner.
Comments: You can use other stamps, too (there are some gorgeous designs available, or visit a stamp dealer for low-cost discards that collectors don't want). You can get stamps in smaller values if you are really pinched, or ask girls to bring in used stamps from home. (The envelope backing will give the stamp a little extra body.) I have done this with all levels from Brownies to Seniors and they all love it -- the Seniors used the recent comic strip stamps! ******************************************************************** Old Fashioned Pins From: Gail Faulkner / NW Georgia GS Council
Ages: 5 - 8 Supplies: old magazines, foam meat trays or foam picnic plates, glue, felt tip markers, clear nail polish, pin backs
Directions: Cut out scene (small) from magazines. Trace around edge of picture onto foam meat tray or disposable foam picnic plate. Cut out. Edge border of picture and foam back with felt tip market. Glue picture to foam back with craft glue. Let dry. Brush two coats of clear nail polish over all surfaces, allow to dry between coats. Glue bar pin to back.

Kris Swank

Clothes Pin Catepillar
Take a regular cheap wooden clothes pin, glue pompoms to it across the one of the flat sides.You want to pick your size of pompom so the flat surface of the clothes pin is covered by the pom pom. Add 2 wiggle eyes to the front pompom. (The front is the end you don't squeese on to open the pin) and between the first and second pompom glue a 2" piece of pipe steam folded in a "V" for the antennae. Write info on the bottom of the pin. The pin itself clips on so you don't need a safety pin.
Go Fish swap
Cut 2 or 3 small fish shapes, draw on a mouth, eyes and scales. Punch a hole near the mouth of tthe fish. Tie some thread on to each fish. For the pole take 1/3 of a regular drinking straw, poke a small hole in the end and thread thru the hole. Gleu a pin back to the straw.
Record Swap
Paint poker chips black. Drill a hole in the center. Glue a label to the center with event info or troop info. Add a pin to the back.
Sports Balls Swaps
Paint Woodsies that are the appropriate shape like sports balls.
Gold Medal Swap
Paint poker chips gold. Glue a loop of red whit & blue ribbon to the back and add a pin back to the top of the ribbon. Write something like Gold Medal Girl on the front and event/Troop info on the back.

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