I got my Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores flier for May 4-17 in the mail yesterday.

Of particular note:

• May 8-10: Most Simplicity patterns on sale for $1.99 each.
• May 15-17: Most McCall’s and Butterick patterns on sale for $1.99 each.
• Entire sale: 40 percent off most Home Decor fabrics.

Now, if you are just starting with frugal or DIY lifestyle skills, you’ll want to get on the Jo-Ann Flier mailing list. In most of the mail-out fliers, there will be a 40 percent off any regular-priced item.

And while Jo-Ann is constantly running sales on this or that, I can practically guarantee there will be something you need for your project that isn’t on sale. Even if you save just 40 cents on a spool of thread because that was the only qualifying purchase, well that’s 40 cents you didn’t spend.

You don’t have to be a talented seamstress to save money with DIY projects. Halloween costumes are fairly easy to make with basic sewing skills – I sewed up a blue M&M costume one year! I also have made prairie dress costumes.

And handmade cards are much cheaper than buying commercially-made cards. Start with a box of blank cards, a handful of colored markers or gel pens, one or two ink pads and one or two rubber stamps or rubber stamp kits that work for a variety of occasions. For example, I have a collection of Japanese-themed rubber stamps that I bought one at a time and work really well for unique birthday and thank-you cards.