Happy New Year (of Freebies)!

I cannot even express how the first Friday of January has sneaked up behind me and caught me off guard!  Somehow, though, in the middle of the holiday bustle and other life changes going on all around me, I did manage to remember that not only did I have a First Friday Freebie for you – I actually remembered to offer it to you today!

I’ll be having some announcements to make soon, but not today – it’s Freebie Day!

Before we get to January’s Freebie, let’s take a look back.  December is always a rush and I believe the postal service, in their busiest time of the year, was a little late in getting the Freebie to its new home.  I’m sorry I don’t have a photo to post as usual, but I do want to announce that December’s Freebie, the embroidered oven mitt and potholder set, went all the way to –

Tamara in Lexington, South Carolina!  Congratulations Tamara and I really appreciated your sweet note of thanks.  I hope you enjoy your First Friday Freebie!

You can see the gift Tamara won here.

January is upon us and so is the cold.  Actually, it’s been rather pleasant here lately, but I’ve lived here all my life and I know how this works.  When January toys with you, offering you a few days of spring-like weather, it’s merely gearing up for the next round of torture.  It’s bound to hit soon and when it does, you’ll be glad you have January’s First Friday Freebie.

Green Collar Scarf FREEBIE!  www.midweststoryteller.com

This eco-friendly green collar scarf by Life is Beautiful appears at first glance, to be the world’s shortest scarf, but as you see in the photo, when folded in the opposite direction, becomes a warm fringed collar that you can slip on over a coat or jacket to keep the winter chill from whistling down your neck and at the same time, keep long scarf “tails” from getting in your way.  Green, many times, becomes a neutral because it coordinates with so many other colors, so it will go with many of your coats and jackets.  Or, how about wearing it indoors?  As shown in the photo, it’s a great way to spiff up a plain pullover.

No matter how I tried to adjust the photos, the color just doesn’t show to be as pretty of a color as the scarf actually is. In reality, the green is “happier”.

To win the fringed green collar scarf, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post saying, “Warm me up, Midwest Storyteller!”

You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, January 3rd, 2020! 

Important:  Once you’ve entered, you MUST keep checking the email address you used to subscribe or you may not know you’ve won and have to forfeit your free gift.  Also, remember that this particular comment must be made here on the blog post and not on Facebook or other social media sites. 

My Freebies last for one day only – on the First Friday of each month.  Tell your friends and family TODAY through social media, send them the link in an email or just tell them, “It’s Freebie Day!”   

Leave your comment now before you forget! 

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.  You’ll find a subscription area in the right sidebar or you can 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!

The Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest icons on this page are there to help you share.

Past gifts and their happy winners are 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, “Warm me up, Midwest Storyteller!”  

I send Freebies to any winner who lives within the continental United States.  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

Have a bright and happy 2020 with and may your year be blessed beyond anything you can ask or imagine!

November’s Freebie Winner!

At least one of my readers is way ahead of me in preparing for the holiday rush.  That’s because she’s now in possession of November’s First Friday Freebie. 

Meet the winner –

Freebie Winner Karen www.midweststoryteller.com

Karen from Boonville, Missouri 

It took Karen a few tries, but eventually, when Smuffy reached in an drew out a name, she won the set of 56 Fabulous Gift Tags!

Congratulations, Karen!

You can see the original freebie offer here.

From glitter to watercolor and from foil to polka dots (along with some handmade Christmas creations of my own) these versatile gift tags will carry Karen through Christmas and various other occasions. 

As a subscriber, Karen receives an email on the first Friday of the month, letting her know that it’s time to read a short blog post and comment as directed.  That’s all it took to enter her name into the drawing.

Freebies are my way of reaching out to more folks who might enjoy the various stories, recipes and more here at Midwest Storyteller.  When you share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, that gives them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  The helpful information and smiles here are free. Sometimes I feel like I’m just raining wonderfulness!

Freebies happen every month.  My Freebies page features past winners and the free gifts they’ve won.

 December’s drawing is coming on up Friday, November 6tht.

A winner is 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. 

REMEMBER:  Should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll need to check your email often in the week following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.

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 Friday December 6th, 2019.

Leave a comment!  On a desktop 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.

October’s Freebie Winner!

My readers loved this month’s First Friday Freebie.  I had people contacting me to ask where they could get one of these for themselves or a friend.

Freebie Hidden Pocket Infinity Scarf www.midweststoryteller.com

 

Only one person, however, could be the recipient of this great scarf for free.  Let’s meet –

Freebie Winner Hidden Pocket Infinity Scarf midweststoryteller.com

Sandy from Boonville, Missouri 

This wonderful infinity scarf with a hidden pocket will be just right for all your outings this fall, Sandy.  The pocket with zipper closure is ample in size to accommodate your keys, phone, passport or whatever you want to tuck away so you can be hands-free to go for a walk, romp with the kiddos or hop on a plane.

Congratulations and enjoy!

You can see the original freebie offer here.

Sandy followed the instructions and commented as when she received her email on the first Friday of the month.  That’s all it took to enter her name into the drawing.

Freebies are my way of reaching out to more folks who might enjoy the various stories, recipes and more here at Midwest Storyteller.  Why not share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest so they’ll be able to subscribe?  Subscribing is every bit as free as the freebie!

Freebies happen every month.  Check out my Freebies page to see the winner and the free gifts they’ve won.

 The November drawing is coming on up Friday, November 1st.

A winner is 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. 

REMEMBER:  Should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll need to check your email often in the week following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.

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 November 1st, 2019.

Leave a comment!  On a desktop 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.

September’s Freebie Winner!

The month of September and summer have slipped past in a whirlwind.  So much so that here it is October and I am just announcing September’s First Friday Freebie winner.  Have you forgotten these beautiful “paper” earrings?

Paper Earrings www.midwetstoryteller.com

No, I didn’t forget to give them away.  They found their new home soon enough –  it was the announcement that lagged.

Let’s meet the winner and wearer –

Ginger from Prairie Home, Missouri 

They look just great on you, Ginger!  At their core, these lovely earrings really are paper.  Many steps are included in the process that transforms them so that they look like metal under glass.  You can see the original post offering the earrings here.

Congratulations, Ginger, and enjoy!

All Ginger had to do was comment as directed when she received her email on the first Friday of the month.  That’s all it took to enter her name into the drawing.

Freebies are my way of reaching out to more folks who might enjoy the various stories, recipes and more here at Midwest Storyteller.  Why not share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest so they’ll be able to subscribe?  Subscribing is every bit as free as the freebie!

Freebies happen every month.  You might be wondering if the gifts are worth the effort. Check out my Freebies page to see the winner and the free gifts they’ve won.

 The October drawing is coming on up Friday, October 4th.

A winner is 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. 

An important thing to remember is that should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll need to check your email often in the week following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.

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 October 4th, 2019.

Leave a comment!  Have you ever tried making your own jewelry? I’d love to hear your creative ideas!

Here’s August’s Freebie Winner!

We welcomed August with a pineapple, a symbol of welcome, or perhaps not, as we discussed in the original post.  Let’s see who won the drawing for the First Friday Freebie and welcomed it into their home –

Freebie Winner Eva  www.midweststoryteller.com

Eva from New Franklin, Missouri!

This shabby little bit of metal décor from Hobby Lobby will liven up Eva’s walls, that is, if her daughter doesn’t latch onto it for her own room.  I’m told she’s enjoying a pineapple craze at the moment. Do teenagers do that? 

Congratulations and enjoy, Eva – whichever one of you ends up with it!

Eva has entered to win multiple times as one of my faithful subscribers.  She commented as instructed when she received her email on the first Friday of the month.  That’s all it took to enter her name into the drawing.

Freebies are my way of reaching out to more folks who might enjoy the various stories, recipes and more here at Midwest Storyteller.  Seriously now, would you want one of your friends to miss an episode of my Life with Smuffy? Why not share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest so they’ll be able to subscribe?  Subscribing is every bit as free as the freebie!

Freebies happen every month.  Check out my Freebies page to see the winner and the free gifts they’ve won.

 The August drawing is coming on up Friday, September 6th.

A winner is 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. 

An important thing to remember is that should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll need to check your email often in the days following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.

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 September 6th, 2019.

Leave a comment!  On a desktop 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.

Announcing July’s Freebie Winner!

My last First Friday Freebie was a small thing reminding us to enjoy the small things.  Let’s meet July’s winner –

July Freebie Winner Elise  www.midweststoryteller.com

Elise from Sterling, Illinois!

This 6”X6” bit of wood and metal décor with metal lettering will perch on Elise’s shelf or hang on the wall. 

I know you’ll find the perfect spot for it, Elise.  I’m so glad you entered to win!

Congratulations!

All Elise had to do was to become one of my faithful subscribers (which she was already) and comment as directed when she received her email on the first Friday of the month.  Then, POOF, just like that, her name entered into the drawing for the Freebie.

It’s that simple, folks!  Why not share Midwest Storyteller with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest so they’ll be able to subscribe and do the same?  Subscribing is every bit as free as the freebie!

Freebies happen every month.  Check out my Freebies page to see the winner and the free gifts they’ve won here at Midwest Storyteller. To see July’s original Freebie offer, click here.

 The August drawing is coming on up Friday, August 2nd.

A winner is 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. 

An important thing to remember is that should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll be needing to check your email often in the days following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.

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 August 2nd, 2019.

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.

Smuffy’s latest adventure, “A Studebaker in the Hand is Not Worth Two in the Bush” got a lot of attention!  I’m glad so many of you enjoyed it.  The incident reminds me of the time we went to pick up some new living room furniture…  Stay tuned, for Smuffy, quite literally, is “on a roll”! 

June’s Freebie Winner!

I’m always excited to see who wins my monthly giveaway.  Let’s meet June’s winner of the First Friday Freebie –

June's Freebie Winner Francine www.midweststoryteller.com

Francine from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Francine!

I know you’ll find plenty of things to do with these fancy, tasseled, copper paper clips and all six rolls of that nifty color-coordinated washi tape.

The fun paper clips are from Paige Evans’ line called Pink Paislee.  They are just the type of thing I love to use as a bookmark for favorite spots in a recipe book, planner or anything else I want to make a quick grab for.

The washi tape by Pebbles at pebblesinc.com and all the colors and patterns go great with the tassled paper clips.  If you’re new to the washi tape scene, you can find out more about it in the original Freebie post here.

You can enter to win every month on the first Friday.  Share Midwest Storyteller with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest (or be old fashioned about it and just tell them)!  Subscribers receive an email on the first Friday each month reminding them to leave a comment that will enter their name in the drawing.

Check out my Freebies page to see the winners and the gifts they’ve won here at Midwest Storyteller.

Don’t dawdle!  The next drawing happens on Friday, July 5th.  With the holiday, you’re bound to forget, so subscribe now and you’ll receive an email reminder.

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 July 5th.  

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.

May’s Freebie Winner! Really?

We’ll never be able to say that it doesn’t pay to try, try and try again.  Let’s meet (again) the latest winner of my First Friday Freebie –

Donna from Bunceton, Missouri!

I would like to start out by saying (“scout’s honor” if I had been any sort of scout, but I wasn’t, so you’ll have to take me at my word) that this monthly drawing is not rigged.  Perhaps you’ve noticed that Donna has now won the First Friday Freebie three times.  Perhaps you didn’t notice, and in that case, I’m sorry I brought the whole thing up.

The other thing that maybe some of you know and many of you don’t is that Donna is also my sister!  There is nothing in the rules that says that my relatives can’t enter to win, but this is getting ridiculous!  No matter how I adjust my poker face, or display the backs of the little slips of paper with entries written on them, Smuffy’s hand just randomly snatches Donna’s name out every so often as though by some magnetic force.

Anyway, congratulations, Donna!

 I hope you enjoy your set of handcrafted, up-cycled, sparkly gift bags and I hope they bring joy to whomever you bless when you give them away with gifts inside.

The gift bags were an art project of mine.  If you’d like to see how I take store merchandizing bags and turn them into beautiful gift bags, click here.  To see the original freebie offer, click here.

To all my readers, I’d like you to climb on board the “Stop Donna Express”!  I can only think of one way to stop my sister from becoming like one of those Jeopardy contestants who just can’t seem to go home and that is if YOU lower her odds by entering to win and share Midwest Storyteller with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest (or be old fashioned about it and tell them to subscribe so they’ll be able do the same.  Subscribers receive an email on the first Friday each month reminding them to leave a comment that will enter their name in the drawing.

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.

 June’s drawing is right around the corner – June 7th, to be exact.  Donna is bound to enter, but the question is, will you?

Announcing March’s Freebie Winner!

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.

February’s Fabulous Freebie Winner!

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.