The best ideas for Girl Scout bridging from crafts to snacks and SWAPS.
Bridging is a deeply loved Girl Scout tradition that honors girls’ achievements throughout the year and celebrates their “crossing the bridge” up to the next Girl Scout level. Many troops hold their bridging ceremony in early summertime. often tying to the end of the girls’ current academic school year. Bridging is such a mark of growth for the girls and a time to recognize how much they have grown. These are some of the best Girl Scout Bridging Ideas!
When Girl Scouts bridge to the next level, rainbows are often part of the celebration theme. These Girl Scout rainbow crafting ideas and recipes are here in one place for you to plan and create an awesome bridging event.
SWAPS are fun for trading between troops or for leaders to give as little gifts. In everyday people terms, a SWAPS is a small handmade crafty item (usually with a pin attached) that Girl Scouts exchange. Girls make them to take to camps and events as conversation openers and for sharing. I am excited to share TONS of great great Rainbow Crafts for Girl Scout Bridging and SWAPS ideas too.
Rainbow Craft Decorations
There are TONS of rainbow projects on my blog. Here are loads of ideas and links to a few of my favorite that make great Girl Scout Bridging Ideas for projects, gifts and crafts.
Rainbow Table Covers (Great for Bridging Parties) – This is such a FUN way to decorate for younger troops. Make the clouds on butcher paper with 3D paint ahead of time. It takes hours to dry. Then have crayons available to add rainbows between clouds.
Rainbow Button Cloud Pillow – These are a fun little craft that could be made at a meeting.
Stacked Felt Rainbow – I love this idea as a craft to make after the ceremony while celebrating.
Rainbow Wands – These are super fun and easy to make. What a fun way to celebrate by waving these wands.
Rainbow Pom-Pom Garland – So exciting to make and fun to use to decorate…
Felt Garland Craft – This one is awesome for kids to make. It is part of a rainbow sprinkle party to take on the go.
Girl Scout Bridging Ideas – Rainbow Ceremony
My troop had an awesome time with this one. I shared all of the details here on the blog so you can go check them out. We had rainbow everything with a little luau theme intertwined when we moved up to Senior Scouts.
Rainbow Bridging Dessert Ideas
There are so many awesome ways to celebrate with sweet treats using the unicorn and rainbow magical themes. Here are some of my favorites that are all tried and true in this house. They are all here on the blog with recipes, tips and tricks. Baking is a craft too so these totally count as rainbow crafts!
Unicorn Candy Bark – Super easy and so adorable too. This has a free printable tag.
Rainbow Layered Cake – Get all the tips and tricks to successfully bake a rainbow cake.
Rainbow Cake Stacks – This has a super fun free printable too.
Unicorn with Hidden Sprinkles Cupcakes – Sprinkles in the hidden cavity make these cupcakes full of surprises.
Rainbow Shaped Cookies – This is an easy peasy recipe for last minute baking.
Sugar Sprinkle Drop Cookies – I LOVE this as a super last minute go-to recipe for all the things.
IDEAS for Rainbow Bridging SWAPS
If you are unfamiliar with SWAPs, they are Special.Whatchamatcallits.Affectionately.Pinned.Somewhere. Girls make them to trade at events, meetings, camps and all the places. Often they are themed to match up with events but for Girl Scout bridging, rainbows are perfect.
I love this one. To make it you use Sculpey Bake Shop clay. Mold and bake then glue a pin to the back.
To make this one, you simply use Shrinky Dinks and Sharpie markers. Color your rainbow, punch a hole then bake according to the instructions. Put a jewelry clip through it and attach it to a pin.
I love buttons. These buttons are threaded together with wire then a pin backing was glued to them.
It has been a few years since we made these ribbon rainbow SWAPs but they were a huge hit! I love it that you can get the ribbon right on Amazon.
These darling felt rainbow pins are featured over on the blog at Kunin Group using felt. They are fun to make and darling too. The cloud was made using a die-cut with my Badges die that I designed for Ellison/Sizzix.
Girl Scout Printables
This is such a fun song to sing as a big group at a celebration. Download the lyrics to share with family and friends.
I am sharing two FREE printables here that you can download, print and use.
Best Ways to Use Free Printables
You might have seen this list from me before but I think it is worth sharing over and over. Sometimes the people in the back need to hear things a few times, right? There are so many great ways to use free printables. Here are some of my favorites.
- Print them and mail in an envelope with a stamp. Snail mail rocks.
- Batch some up to make an activity book. This is great for a road trip!
- Print and use at a place setting on the table to create a conversation starter.
- Add them to goody bags. By the way, goody bags are not just for birthday parties.
- Package them up with your favorite markers and crayons to give as a gift.
- Drop a few off at the local coffee shop with fun pencils to spread some happy.
- Cut them up to make cards, gift wrap and decorations.
BEST Tools For Working With Free Printables for Rainbow Crafts for Girl Scout Bridging
These are my favorite tools and art supplies to use with free printables and why I love them too.
- Printer – This Laser Printer is inexpensive and works like a charm. It even works with Alexa. Bonus!
- Scissors – Lots of printables can be cut up to create decorations and cards and things like that.
- Markers and Crayons – All thing ooly work the best for me. I LOVE all of their markers, pencils and crayons.
- Colored Pencils – For adult coloring, PRISM makes the colored pencils that I love to use most.
- Twine – For creating banners and garlands from printables, I love this twine best.
- Adhesive – Lots of printables have pieces that get cut out and put together. This is my fave tape runner!
Cheers to Girl Scout Bridging Ceremonies and Celebrations!
Laura