I decided to start my return to blogging with the SWAPS I made over the summer.
My regular followers know that I make a different SWAP for each day of summer camp. This year was a little different because the 2018 AHG Leadership Conference in St. Louis Missouri occurred during the same time. I had already committed to attend, and meet up with some AHG friends who do not live near me, for a much needed girls weekend before the date and location was announced. So I was not able to attend camp like I regularly do.
Upon learning that I was not going to be at camp, several of the girls in my troop were disappointed that they would not be getting SWAPS. I hated to let the girls down, so I did my SWAPS differently this year.
For each day of camp, I sent a note/letter to each member of our troop that was attending camp. Included in the package were 2 SWAPS – one for them and one to share with someone outside of our troop. Not only did they receive SWAPS, they also received mail.
The first SWAP for the week was this alligator SWAP. I opted to use clothes pins for this one instead of the more traditional safety-pin.
Here are the instructions, along with a free downloadable tag, if you would like to make some of your very own.
SUPPLIES:
Green miniature clothes pin*
White acrylic paint
Small paint brush
Black permanent marker
PDF File for the SWAP tag (available here)
Cardstock
Scissors
Ink pen
Step 1: Begin by downloading and printing the pdf file onto cardstock. Cut each tag along the dotted lines. Add your name and troop number to the back of each tag and set aside.
Step 2: Using the non-brush end of the paint brush, create 2 white dots for the alligator eyes. (Dip the handle end of the paintbrush into white paint, and dab it onto the clothes pin). Allow to dry.
Step 3: Once the white paint has dried, use the permanent marker to add nostrils, the center of the eye, and a zig-zag down the back of the alligator.
Step 4: Attach the alligators to the tags (from step 1) and SWAP
*Note: I found small green clothes pins at several local craft stores. If they are not available, you could paint wooden clothes pins green.
If you are new to the idea of SWAPS, check out this helpful resource (HERE).
A full list of my SWAPS can be found by clicking on the words American Heritage Girls at the top of the page and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
