Crafting meets self care. Plenty of lovely projects that will inspire and nurture your creative pursuits in a gentle way that feeds your soul at the same time. Ford offers easy to follow instructions for beginners that allow you to jump into any one of the 25 included projects without any pressure. Beautifully illustrated and sprinkled with just the right amount of whimsy this crafters guide stands alone in it's unique and refreshing approach.

This is a quick book to read but has some fantastic ideas, great guidance and fabulous photographs of pieces being made. If you love crafting or want to give sprucing up your home a go I'd definitely give this book a read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Full of seratonin-boosting crafts, this is an excellent book for established crafters and those who are taking up crafts for the first time. Clear, informative and attractive in it's layout, this book offers something for every interest,

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Craft Your Own Happy is a great project book for quick and simple crafts to unwind in your free time with. Easy to follow instructions and lovely photographs to illustrate the patterns. Good for crafters of all skill levels.

5 out of 5 stars.

Fabulous ideas for modern, mindful and positive crafting!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Very cute little book
Very easy to follow
I have my eye on a few of the crafts to do for my home. If your looking for easy to follow positive crafts to do this is for you

I did not enjoy this one, the projects wasn't my style and I don't feel like they were dynamic enought to transformed in other styles. Maybe it's me, maybe is somwthing weird and I shouldn't try to force it, but for my niece was a good option and even do some projects for her room

If you are crafty and you’re looking for a fun, happy new project this is the book for you,
I loved it and have recommended to less crafty friends who loves it just as much so I think it’s a real all-rounder
Get crafty !

I loved this book. Great instructions.
Really good, up close pictures that let you see exactly what has been done and how to do it.
Colourful projects that lift the sprits. Also lots of ‘cheap’ projects that don’t cost a fortune with materials that can be found in your garden or countryside near you.
Loved the use of ‘ natural’ things eg flowers, stones etc.

There are so many projects to chose from I’m spoilt for choice which to choose first.
I also really like the photos used of the author Becci Mai Ford. She has a lovely sunny face that makes you smile. I will definitely be looking for other books of hers and at Elbie co which she foundered.

A lovely, joyful book filled with fantastic ideas and craft alongside gorgeous images and sage advice. I loved it

Unfortunately we do live in stressful times, 2020 as been extremely trying for all of us, whilst this book will not make it all go away, it will take one to a more peaceful, creative space where one can leave the turmoil behind for a short time.
All the project in this book are easy, small and have enough degree of difficulty in them to take one away from the problems of everyday life - for a little while.
Some projects for everyone from stitch, felting, paper, macramé, clay/cement and outdoor inspired work. I love the iphone cover using resin and flowers from the garden. Also the painted rocks can be very satisfying - using the shape to create a picture.
I love this book, I love the fact that it is easy to use and that has enough distraction time involved in the project to give one breathing space.

This is a lovely,well put together book filled with fun crafts that encourage mindfulness and help reduce stress. The projects are divided into moods and types- there are crafts to reduce anxiety, crafts to express gratitude, etc. Throughout, the author offers tips and advice based on her own struggles with anxiety, which adds a more personal touch. There's a pretty broad variety of crafts to choose from here, utilizing many different materials and techniques, so there's sure to be something for everyone, with a lot of room for customization. Each project has clear, easy to follow instructions accompanied by lots of helpful photos, and there's a cheerful vibe to all the crafts in the book. It's obvious Ford put a lot of thought and heart into creating this book, and it would make a perfect gift to give yourself- self care is important, after all!

#CraftYourOwnHappy #NetGalley

CRAFT YOUR OWN HAPPY was sent to me by Net Galley, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.
Published by Pen and Sword Books, CRAFT YOUR OWN HAPPY, is a Christian non-fiction activity book. It is written by Becca Mai Ford.
Becca Mai Ford writes of anxiety being helped by many different types of activities. There are seven sections in this book, each of which contains a few projects, for which templates are included…
Anxiety Makes – An embroidery, made of several different stitches, + 3 others
Get Outside – An air dried clay leaf ring dish + 3
Happy Home – A cute kawaii concrete planter + 3
Gratitude Makes – Peg Prompts, which is a really neat gratitude wreath + 3
Tidy Mind Makes – Kawaii felt taco headphone organizer, for storing earbuds + 2 more
Self Care Crafting – Kawaii tassel necklace + 2
Hibernate – Honeycomb Quilted Cushion – to distract your mind.
I like this book because I suffered with anxiety attacks for two years. They are very scary. Activity distracts the mind to help pull you out of them. These activities would be fun for anyone. But, especially for someone suffering chronic anxiety. I would recommend this book.

Cute book of 25 craft projects to improve your mood and give you something to focus on. Seeing the finished projects is also cheerful. I liked the variety of project types and materials. The project guides went step by step with full color photos and are helpful. I think this book could be good for teens and older.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Craft Your Own Happy" is full of quirky, simple, and fun projects to help you relax and forget (for a while) how completely crappy life can be. I'm not sure I would actually make any of the projects, but it has given me ideas for my own! The most important thing I've learned from this is that crafting is about the process and not so much the end result. As long as you enjoy yourself and are happy with what you make, then it's no one else's business! Might I suggest a follow-up book called "Just Craft It"?!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Who doesn't need a little art therapy these days? I like that this book keeps it simple--25 projects with clear instructions and results. That way you don't have the added stress of how to design your project or what to do if you mess up. The author doesn't assume that you have a crafty background--there are photos of how to put cloth in an embroidery hoop, for example. If you're feeling anxious, depressed, or unmotivated, you might get some peace and satisfaction from working on one of these items. The designs tend to skew a little younger, so teens or tweens might like them more than older crafters, but since this is more about the journey, it's a worthwhile book to add to your shelf.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

I thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword books for providing me an ARC e-book copy of this book (and thank Rosie Croft for recommending it to me).
I am not a great expert in crafting. Quite the opposite. Although I love crafted and hand-made objects, I have very little skill and I am quite clumsy (I can do very basic knitting and I am not too bad at crocheting, but that’s about it), so it is not something I pursue often. These days, though, with the forced lockdown due to the pandemic, many people have turned to doing craft projects at home, either on their own or with their children, and as I have been interested in Mindfulness (and meditate regularly) since I attended a workshop six years ago, this book seemed to tick several boxes.
The author of the books sells craft kits, has appeared on TV and has been interviewed by many well-known UK magazines ,and she explains that she saw this book as an extension of her craft kits.
The book is divided into a number of chapters: Basics (where she gives basic instruction on embroidery for absolute beginners); Chapter 1. Anxiety makes, which includes: daily ritual embroidery, flower wall decoration, needle felted unicorn keyring, relaxing rainbow cross stitch); Chapter 2. Get outside, including: clay leaf ring dish, gratitude stones, ocean scene resin necklace, pressed flower phone case; Chapter 3. Happy home, including: kawaii concrete planter, pompom footstool, resin art clock, yarn wall hanging; Chapter 4. Gratitude makes: the grateful game, clay diorama, kawaii felt card, origami lucky paper stars, peg prompts; Chapter 5. Tidy mind makes: macramé jewellery organiser, kawaii taco felt headphone organiser, kawaii toast make-up bag; Chapter 6. Self-care crafting: embroidery patch, ‘you are enough’ felt banner, kawaii tassel necklace; Chapter 7. Hibernate: heated hand warmers, honeycomb quilted cushion, eye-mask; and a section with the templates of the projects included in the book.
The author explains in the introduction her personal experience with stress and anxiety and how, after trying more standard forms of mindfulness, she realised that to stop her mind from racing and making her anxious what really worked for her was to keep herself busy doing something that was not only not too taxing for her brain, but also something that she enjoyed and made her and others happy. That’s how she started crafting and this book has projects that would suit all levels of skill, although she breaks them down into easy-to-follow steps, so even I would dare to try some of the most complex ones.
She uses a big variety of materials (resin, cement, paints, wood, buttons, shells, sand, tree leaves, cotton and wool…) and as you can see from the list, creates a large variety of objects, some very simple, and some more elaborate. I particularly liked the fact that she provides practical advice (she warns readers of messy projects, tells us how long they might take, and also explains which ones can be done over a long period of time and are suitable to just work on for a few minutes a day), and she includes projects that are fast and easy to complete, and some that might take a long time to finish, so readers can find something that suits their mood at any given time. She includes a list of materials at the beginning, breaks down each activity into individual steps, illustrating each step with its own image. I am sure those readers who are creative and imaginative when it comes to crafting would find plenty to inspire them here. And many of the projects are eminently suitable for team working, so if you run out of ideas of what to do when you are looking after children or stuck in the house with your nearest and dearest, I’d recommend picking this book up.
The author is full of encouragement and positive advice, that although common-sense and not new or ground-breaking we often forget in the whirlwind of our daily lives. I particularly enjoyed the way she emphasises that there is no one-size fits all approach to crafting, home decoration, or even happiness, and how little things can make a big difference.
Just a couple of quotes from the book:
For me, I think a happy home is a home that doesn’t live in the pages of interior design magazines. A happy home is where you have made your own mark on the environment. A happy home is a place where you can look around and see the love and meaning in the objects surrounding you and a place that actively connects with your personality.
Self-care consists of all the things you do to take care of yourself, to protect your mental well-being. It isn’t about doing specific activities; it is about doing what is right for you in order to ensure your mental wellness.
In sum, this is a book for people who like crafting, or who’d like to try it but don’t feel confident enough, for those looking for something different to keep their minds occupied, and it would make a great gift to people who might benefit from these kinds of activities, even if they have never given it a thought. No degree of expertise is required, and I found it inspiring and full of positive energy as well. Although I read it in e-book format, due to the nature of the projectd and to the section of templates, I recommend getting a paperback copy if possible. Don’t forget to visit the author’s website for more information and to check some other projects.

2020 has been a year of change, upheaval and iolation for many. More time speant at home means that families are spending more time together. This book is ideal for generating fun projects that can be acheived at home. It! will also help unlock the creative potential of anyone using it. Go on Craft Yourself Happy!

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was a fun, colourful and thoughful book filled with great and creative ideas that I can't wait to try out. There is a wide variety crafts types for all skill levels so there is sure to be something for everyone.

I was initially worried that the decision to place this book in a mindfulness/ self-care context may distract from the craft, but I didn’t find it intrusive at all.
I like the colourful, modern projects such as the flower wall, pressed flower phone case and wreath made from pegs. There are quite a few kawaii-style projects (I think this just means sticking cute facial features on an everyday object.)
The organisation of the book is a bit misleading . Before chapter one there’s a section called The Basics which is all about stitching techniques . This makes is look like an embroidery book but this is not the case ….a wide range of crafts are covered, including clay, needle-felting and macramé.
A lovely and accessible contemporary craft book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.