Freebies!

You “May” Win a Freebie (but only if you try)!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 4 Comments

Here we are again at the first Friday of the month.  I hope you’ve told all your friends about First Friday Freebies so they can enter to win today’s drawing.

Sometimes, when I’m on a creative binge, I like to give away my latest creations.  Remember the sparkly, repurposed gift bags I crafted out of shopping bags?

Handcrafted Gift Bags www.midweststoryteller.com

Today I’m giving away this set of three gift bags with coordinating tissues.  The winner will receive “Congrats”, “Best Wishes” and “Happy Birthday” bags with die-cut designs and jeweled embellishments. 

I hope you enjoy my handiwork and are encouraged to try some similar rescue/recycle projects of your own.  If you have any creative ideas for the “accumulated treasures” we all seem to have around the house, I’d love it if you’d share your ideas in the comments and please feel free to send any photos of your creations you’d like to share with me to barb@midweststoryteller.com

If you’d like to see how I made the bags and get ideas on how you can do similar projects on your own or with the kids (and whether or not you have a die cutting machine), check out my post here.

To enter to win the gift bag set, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “Draw my name from the bag!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, May 3rd, 2019!

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.  You can subscribe by going to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already.  Confirming your subscription through the confirmation email you’ll receive is absolutely necessary, so don’t forget that!

Your friends will want to enter to win, too.  Share this post with them through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.  They won’t know if you don’t tell them!

Subscribers win every single month!  See past gifts and their winners on my “Freebies” page.

Remember, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “Draw my name from the bag!”

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, CLICK HERE. 

Glitches happen.  If you subscribe and do not receive a confirmation email for some reason, please email me and let me know at barb@midweststoryteller.com

Freebies only last a day!  Enter now so you don’t forget!

Announcing April’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 1 Comment

I’m excited to meet the latest winner of my First Friday Freebie and to introduce you to –

Margie from Farmington, West Virginia!

I’ve seen Margie’s name pop up in the entries before and this time her persistence paid off when she won the floral metal art wall hook from Hobby Lobby.

Congratulations, Margie!  I hope it finds a great place in your home to add a little cheer.

If you’d like to see the original freebie offer, click here.

A freebie offer appears the first Friday of every month.  Check out my Freebies page to see the winner and their free gifts they’ve won here at Midwest Storyteller.

Subscribe now and you’ll be notified via email of May’s drawing.  You never know what I might be giving away. 

The next First Friday Freebie drawing will be on Friday, May 3, 2019 and only SUBSCRIBERS can win!

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post.  See the recently revised rules below.

Be sure to take a moment make yourself familiar with the Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on May 3rd.

“Share”, “like” and “pin”  this post!  You’re friends will want to know about First Friday Freebies, too!

Enjoying the Freebies?  Leave a comment!  If you’re on your computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.

I think I feel a Smuffy story coming on!  One of those might be wonderful with some Gluten-free Sourdough Pancakes.  Now, which one to do first…

Bringing on Spring with a Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 9 Comments

April showers, as the old saying goes, bring May flowers, and I’m offering you an early bouquet with this flowery First Friday Freebie!

This metal art wall hook from Hobby Lobby is just the thing to set the tone for warmer weather in your home.  Subtle shades of pinks and yellows, along with green leaves give this rustic hook a bit of “happy”.  It’ll be the perfect place to hang a fun tote bag, basket, scarf, or serve as a catcher for that jacket you can’t wait to stop wearing.  It measures 12 inches tall and 8 ½ inches wide.

I do love a great Hobby Lobby find and this one is cute, cute, cute!

To enter to win the flowery wall hook, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “Bring on the spring thing!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, April 5th, 2019!

First Friday Freebies happen every month for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so hop on over to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already.

Share this post with all your friends and family through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest so they can enter to win, too!

Subscribers win every single month!  My “Freebies” page has past freebies.  Take a look at all the free gifts and the wonderful people who’ve been winning them.

Remember, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “Bring on the spring thing!”

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, CLICK HERE. 

Subscribing is simple and FREE, but don’t forget to go immediately to your email to confirm your subscription or it will not go through.  If you do not receive a confirmation email for some reason, please email me and let me know at barb@midweststoryteller.com

The clock is ticking!  Enter now so you don’t forget to do that before midnight tonight!

I hope we all get to enjoy many more glorious spring days! Phoebe June and I spent some time outside working and playing before this last round of rain.  Would you care to guess which one of us worked and which one of us played?  She’s enjoying spring as much as I am, except for being irritated at her humans for not spending entire days outside with her.  She lets us know, loud and clear, what she thinks of our disobedience.  Sometimes it’s just a mere glance, but even that is enough to convey the message in her eyes as, “You nitwit!” She shares her opinions on my Phoebe June page.

Thoughts?  Questions?  I’d love to hear from you!  Please leave a comment.

Announcing March’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 1 Comment

The First Friday Freebie for March has found the perfect home!   

March Freebie Winner Ruth midweststoryteller.com

Ruth of St. Louis, Missouri!

Ruth was kind enough to email me a photo. She assures me that she is an avid reader and is tickled pink to receive her free autographed copy of “Pathways of the Heart” by Diane Yates.  There’s something mysterious in the way Smuffy’s fingers reach out for just the right name.  It’s as though, somehow, they just know.

Congratulations, Ruth!  You’re going to want to read the continuing story, “All That Matters”, too.

Here’s a photo of them both.

Books by Diane Yates midweststoryteller.com

If you’re feeling sad that you didn’t win this book by Diane Yates, remember you can visit www.dianeyates.com for access to her books, blog and more. Another thanks to Diane for donating a copy of her book to Midwest Storyteller. For my thoughts on “Pathways of the Heart” and an interview with Diane Yates, click here.

If you’d like to see the original freebie offer, click here.

Of course, I’m giving away another freebie on the first Friday of every month, so be sure to subscribe, if you haven’t already, and watch for the email you’ll receive on Friday, April 5th.

Visit the Freebies page where you can see what subscribers of Midwest Storyteller have been winning.

MORE ABOUT FREEBIES:  A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post.  See the recently revised rules below.

And now, here are the Freebie Rules. 

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on April 5th.

Oh, and Happy Spring!  It’s been a long winter and I’m lovin’ this!

“Share”, “like” and “pin” this post!  You’re friends will want to enter to win, too!

Enjoying the Freebies?  Leave a comment!  If you’re on your computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.

Cuddle Up with March’s First Friday Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 14 Comments

I just heard the extended weather forecast.  Cold.  Snow.  More arctic air has us in its sights and it looks like March is not going to lure us outdoors in our shirt sleeves, at least those of us who live anywhere in the Midwest.  But, then again, it just snowed in Las Vegas, so I suppose few of us here in the U.S. will escape the chill.  We may dream of tiptoeing through the tulips, but it’s only a dream, lest we catch cold.

That makes March the perfect time to curl up with a good book!  I want to give a special thanks to Diane Yates for providing this month’s First Friday Freebie!

Pathways of the Heart Friday Freebie

If you’ll remember, I recently did an interview with Diane and a review of her first book, “Pathways of the Heart”.  You can catch up on that here in case you missed it.  In my post, I shared about how I met Diane, how much she has helped me in my writing endeavors and my thoughts and gleanings from “Pathways of the Heart”.

Now, Diane is graciously giving one of you the opportunity to receive this autographed copy of “Pathways of the Heart” absolutely free!  What better way to curl up with a cup of tea (or hot chocolate) and pretend the cold winds aren’t howling outside?

When you finish it, you’ll want to grab the sequel, “All That Matters”.  Links to Diane’s blog, website and contact information are all included in my earlier post entitled, “An Interview with Author Diane Yates”.

To enter to win “Pathways of the Heart”, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’m ready for a good read!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, March 1st, 2019!

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so hop on over to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already.

Your friends will enjoy the stories, recipes, laughter and, of course, the FREEBIES here on the blog, too, so share with all your friends and family through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest.

Subscribers win every single month!  On the “Freebies” page, you’ll be able to see what they’ve been winning.

Once again, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “I’m ready for a good read!”

And now, here are the complete rules: 

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

Four simple steps!

Don’t let the day slip away!  Subscribe now if you haven’t already, and confirm in your email before you forget! 

Spring, I promise, is on the way.  It’s never failed me yet.  Well, except for maybe last year when it came for two days and then vanished.  I’d have thrown a temper tantrum, but it was 90 degrees and so humid that I couldn’t muster up the energy.  May our 2019 bring delightful days that, like treasured loved ones, come early and stay late!

Comments or questions?  I’d love to hear from you!  Please leave a comment telling me what good books you’ve read lately.  I’m curious – what is your favorite book of all time?

February’s Fabulous Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 2 Comments

My most recent First Friday Freebie went to a familiar face!  Let’s take a look at the winner – 

Donna, February's Freebie Winner

Donna from Bunceton, Missouri!

Donna has won once before and her name popped up again this time when Smuffy did his duty, following my instructions to and “picked a card – any card”.

Congratulations, Donna!  I hope you enjoy your “Love Deeply” word art plaque from Hobby Lobby, not just as Valentine décor, but all year round!

Here’s another view of Donna’s gift.

Love Deeply Plaque midweststoryteller.com

If you’d like to see the original freebie offer, click here.

A freebie offer appears the first Friday of every month.  Check out the freebie page to see what people have been winning here at Midwest Storyteller.

 Subscribe now and you’ll be notified via email of March’s drawing.  You never know what it might be. 

The next First Friday Freebie drawing will be on Friday, March 1, 2019 and only SUBSCRIBERS can win!

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post.  See the recently revised rules below.

And now, here are the Freebie Rules. 

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on March 1st.

“Share”, “like” and “pin”  this post!  You’re friends will want to enter to win, too!

Enjoying the Freebies?  Leave a comment!  If you’re on your computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.

Love (and a Freebie) is in the Air!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 13 Comments

Welcome to February!  I love gift-giving and I wish I could send this First Friday Freebie out to all my subscribers as my Valentine to you.  Ah, if only…

But, I can send it out, as always, to the winner of the February drawing!

Let’s take a look –

Love Deeply Plaque miidweststoryteller.com

During this month when we celebrate love and take special time out to tell people how much they mean to us, this wooden plaque serves as a great reminder.  It measures 5.91”X7.87” and has a hinged easel attached so you’ll be able to tuck it in amongst the décor on your mantle or anywhere else you choose.

I love that it is not “seasonal”.  After all, love never goes out of style or out of season, does it?  You can display it year round and it will add a great “farmhouse touch” to your home’s décor.

Roaming through aisles of home décor never goes out of style either and I hope you enjoy this Hobby Lobby find.

To enter to win the “Love Deeply” plaque, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I LOVE First Friday Freebies!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, February 1st, 2019!

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so if you’ve not become a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet, give yourself a little love gift by heading over to the right sidebar or using the menu to get to the “Contact Me” page and subscribe if you haven’t done so already.

Share Midwest Storyteller with all your friends and family through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest so they can enter to win and begin enjoying all the great stories, recipes, tips for healthy living, product reviews and more!

Subscribers win every single month!  Visit the “Freebies” page to see what they’ve been winning.

Once again, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “I LOVE First Friday Freebies!”

And now, here are the complete rules: 

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

Four simple steps!

The clock is ticking!  Subscribe if you haven’t already, confirm in your email and comment to enter before midnight tonight, February 1st! 

Enjoy this sparkling winter month by letting those you love know just how special they are to you.  Hint:  This First Friday Freebie would make a great gift for your Valentine!

2019’s First First Friday Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 1 Comment

Sometimes it pays to speak up!  The squeaky wheel gets the grease – right?

That’s how this month’s First Friday Freebie winner managed to enter the drawing!

Let’s meet –  

Freebie Winner Carol midweststoryteller.com

Carol from Boonville, Missouri!

Carol contacted me to say that she’d been having trouble trying to subscribe to the blog.  She’d wanted to enter the drawing for the freebie, but hadn’t been able to get her subscription to go through, receive her confirmation email, confirm through the email and so on.

I told her to fear not, give it another try, and if for some reason I still didn’t see her pop up as a subscriber, I would be sure to put her name into the drawing along with everyone else who entered.

I’m not going to exclude anyone who’s trying on account of a technicality.

Technology – marvelous when it’s working – maddening when it’s not!

This has happened to a couple of other people and I only know this, of course, because they contacted me and let me know.  I have no way of knowing how many others may have had the same experience but didn’t speak up, so if this has happened to you, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com and let me know.

It all paid off in the end for Carol, because when Smuffy reached in, he plucked her name out of all the others! I can also see now that her subscription went through as it should.

Congratulations, Carol!  I hope you enjoy your necklace!

Here’s a close-up view of the handmade paper necklace Carol won.

Paper Jewelry midweststoryteller.com

I know it looks like metal under glass, but it’s not! “Paper Jewelry” is a unique creation of mine. If you’d like to see the original freebie offer and get a better description, click here.

I’ve given away lots of great gifts, so check out the freebie page to see what people have been winning here.

 Subscribe now so you can be ready for February’s drawing.  It’ll be a freebie you’ll love!

The next First Friday Freebie drawing will be on Friday, February 1, 2019 and only SUBSCRIBERS can win (and, of course, those who are trying their doggoned-est)!

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post.  See the recently revised rules below.

And now, here are the Freebie Rules.

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

Follow these four simple steps and subscribe now.  Then, you’ll be ready for February 1st.

“Share”, “like” and “pin”  this post!  You’re friends will want to enter to win, too!

Have an opinion on the Freebies?  Leave a comment!  If you’re on your computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.

Fresh New Freebie for a Fresh New Year!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 15 Comments

My cogs have been turning.  My creativity seems to kick in and do double-time over the holidays and for my January First Friday Freebie, I wanted to offer you one of my recent works of art.

Not every creative idea of mine is a hit, as they say, “first crack out of the box”.  There are days when I feel like the Queen of the Do-overs.  This one, however, turned out great the first time!  So, (…drumroll…)  I now present my latest invention –

Paper Jewelry! 

I know, I know – you’re thinking, “Paper?  No Way!”  I’ve been brooding on this idea for months and I’ve searched online many times, thinking that some pioneer must have already blazed the trail, but I found absolutely nothing, even on Pinterest, that resembled the materials, techniques or results I was hoping would give me the type of thing I envisioned.

There are two reasons for my vision in the first place.  One is that I compulsively invent things in my head all the time and then can’t resist piddling with them.  The other is that I hate heavy jewelry, especially earrings, but I love big jewelry.

Finally, I had to ask myself one of those questions like, “If I were paper jewelry, how would I be made?” 

The results are these beautiful cut-out pieces, specially treated so that you’ll never believe they are made of paper.  The appearance is more like metal or wood under glass.  Their featherweight quality is only discovered when you reach out and touch!

Are they durable, you ask? I’ve been pleased with how sturdy my technique has made the end product. I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in this type of jewelry, but I think it will do as well as much of the other costume jewelry found in stores (some of which I could crush in my bare hands even though they were metal or plastic).

I couldn’t wait to give this one to you as January’s First Friday Freebie!  This pendant is around 1 ¾ inches with a 16-18 inch chain.  I know you’re going to love the patina that gives it the somewhat the look of aged copper under glass.  Though the cut-out areas may look open in the photo, they are not.  They are filled, yet crystal clear!

To enter to win the paper pendant, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’m ready for a brand new freebie!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, January 4th, 2019!

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so if you’ve not become a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet, give yourself a another free gift by heading over to the right sidebar or using the menu to get to the “Contact Me” page and subscribe if you haven’t done so already.

Share this blog with all your friends and family through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or by copying the link into an email so they can enter to win and begin enjoying everything else on the blog as well!

Subscribers win every single month!  Take a look at past freebies on the “Freebies” page to see what they’ve been winning.

If you’d like to take a look at some of the other creative ideas here on my blog, check out my “Create!” page!

Once again, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “I’m ready for a brand new freebie!”

And now, here are the complete rules: 

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

Four simple steps!

Don’t delay!  Time is running out!  Subscribe if you haven’t already, confirm in your email and comment to enter before midnight tonight, December 7th! 

I pray you have a marvelous, fabulous, bright, happy and prosperous New Year!  And for one of you, may it start off with a First Friday Freebie!

‘Tis the Season to Announce December’s Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 2 Comments

Amid the rush of preparations for Christmas there are just some things that can’t be ignored.   One has to make time to take a deep breath, listen to some Christmas music, spend quality time with friends and, oh, yes – have Smuffy draw out a winner for December’s First Friday Freebie!

We have another repeat winner. The winner of the lovely watch set is –

December 2018 Winner midweststoryteller.com

Ruby from Boonville, Missouri!

Ruby says she’d been watch shopping and when December’s freebie offer appeared in her email.  The watch and its six coordinating bracelets seemed to be the perfect solution. All she had to do was to comment as directed in the post and then – just as if she and Smuffy had been of one mind – her name was drawn!

It’s great to know that my freebie winners are pleased with their gifts.  Enjoy your watch, Ruby, and keep entering!

Subscribe now, if you haven’t already, because December is slipping away and with the hustle and bustle of the season, you’ll want to check that simple item off your list so that you won’t miss anything from Midwest Storyteller in 2019.

To see the original freebie offer, click here. The next First Friday Freebie drawing will be on Friday, January 4, 2019 and only SUBSCRIBERS can win! A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post. See the recently revised rules below.

And now, here are the Freebie Rules.

Freebie Rules www.midweststoryteller.com

Follow these four simple steps and subscribe now.   Then, you’ll be ready for January 4th.“Share”, “like” and “pin” this post!  You’re friends will want to enter to win, too!  Click here to go to my “Freebies” page and see what types of gifts my subscribers have been winning.

Have an opinion on the Freebies? Leave a comment! If you’re on your computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.