2023’s Final Freebie Winner!

Greetings in this Bright New Year and all my hopes and prayers that yours is one to remember for all the right reasons.

I’ve been overwhelmed lately, as I’m sure many of you have been over the holidays.  Add to that some (well, lots) of attention that needed to be given to the publishing of my upcoming novel series and some other exciting things that have to do with the future of my book series and I feel I can safely say that I’m what they officially call frazzled.  There’s been no time for chatting with you here recently and that has made me sad.  We can, at least, find out who won December’s “surprise” First Friday Freebie.

Let’s meet –

DIY Holiday Gift Bags www.midweststoryteller.com

Francine from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Francine!  I hope you enjoy and made good use of my hand-made projects. The reason this had to remain a surprise is because I wasn’t finished with them when the First Friday Freebie offer was posted.  I told you I was frazzled.

Francine received her First Friday Freebie in plenty of time to put it to good use for its intended purpose.  I’m always itching to up-cycle something and when I have time, I pull out the craft supplies and my stash of “saved up stuff” and start making things.  This year, Lil’ Snookie and I made lots of homemade Christmas cards, using the pretty fronts I’d saved from cards over the years and adding his creative Nativity artwork (or as he called it, “a barn with statues”) inside along with a Christmas blessing.  Having plenty of cards left over, I decided to decorate gift bags!  Many of the cards had flocking, lots of glitter or sparkle or metallic enhancements even before I added my own touches.

Each bag has its individual Christmas card on the front which I embellished with crystals and metallic ink.  I inserted coordinating tissue and added one of my handmade tags which I also embellished the crystals and metallic ink.  After being pleased with my own bags, I decided that a set of five would make a great gift for one of my readers.

I do send freebies anywhere in the continental U. S., so don’t let your location keep you from entering to win.  It seems that though I have many subscribers and followers, a relatively small percentage enter to win.  That makes your odds fantastic!

Francine had her name drawn after she commented on the freebie post as directed in the post.  I do have to make it just a little tricky each month in order to prevent spam and make sure you’re on your toes and paying attention. 

You can comment as directed on my post on the first Friday of the month also.  That is all any subscriber needs to do to enter to win.  If you’d like to see other past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original First Friday Freebie offer for the one Francine won here

If you’re reading this and haven’t become an email subscriber yet, please do that today.  Hopefully, my freebies, not to mention the stories, recipes and other great content, have enticed you to do that.    

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they each give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  I need you to help me share all the fun with your friends and family.  When you share on MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free. 

Coming up on January 5th, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, January 5th, 2024.

I hope you are beginning this year with bright hopes and high expectations.  After all, is there any benefit in going about it any other way?