The buy local movement usually has consumers gathering vegetables but today is a chance to buy an item rarely included---greeting cards. Stroke of the Heart's warehouse sale starting today (Tuesday, Oct. 4) offers hundreds of styles of greeting cards designed and made locally. Normally they sell in hospital gift shops around the country, but at today's sale, they're just 35 cents each, a savings of 85 percent.

Most are simple watercolor designs with sweet, sentimental phrasing inside. For more samples of the type of work, go to Greeting Card Garden, but keep in mind that the designs shown are not necessarily the same ones at the sale.

Stroke's sale also includes notepads and kitchen magnets for $1.50, gift bags for $1, boxed holiday cards for $5.50, notecards for $4.50 and other miscellaneous gifts.

The sale runs from 4-8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at 3792 Williston Rd., Minnetonka, 952-945-9495. Cash and checks only. No strollers.

More good deals:

The maturing of the daily deal market means that the site sales staff is more resourceful at finding unusual deals. I've been loving the assortment of deals on women's gun classes and bike tune-ups, but one of the current sales at KGB Deals is a clever nod to the harsh reality of dating--two background checks for $28. They include address summary, bankruptcy indicator, marriages and divorces, criminal records, sex offender registry and property and corporate affiliations (whatever that is). All you need is the person's first and last name and the state they live in.

Hmmmm. sounds as if you'll have the best results if your date is named Adam Krolikowski or Tiffany Vandersheidt instead of Jay Johnson or Sara Anderson.

Get 30 percent off most items online only at Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy. Get free shipping on purchases more than $50.