Since childhood, craft projects has always been my escape. Whenever I felt bored or I was not allowed to watch TV or play games, I used to indulge myself in some craft projects.

This book came at the right time when I am totally bored and am spending too much time on screen.

With so many step wise illustrated DIY projects, it has made the craft works very easy and interesting. I loved how the author has written some little valuable notes related to every project, which actually made me smile.

Whether you are an amateur or you love doing DIY projects, it will be very helpful for you.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Lots of different creative ideas on how to change your home into a more colourful place - very descriptive and easy to understand all the instructions in a very colourful book

It's always a little special to realize you're very similar to the author (lists - yes!). Craft Your Own Happy drew my attention for sure ('crafting is the perfect distraction for a busy mind') and spoke to me. It took literal decades for me to get on the scrapbooking wagon, but once I was convinced (thanks mom and sis), I was hooked. And reading Craft Your Own Happy explained exactly why in my case -- it's something calm, and soothing among a chaotic life ('the world can be a pressurized and fast paced place which isn't always the best thing for our mental health'). Learning about the 'flow state' for crafting just makes sense. The photos, projects, instructions are wonderful and simply laid out. While they aren't all projects I'd enjoy working on, there are some that I'm excited to try.

The book offers 25 beginner friendly crafting projects that you can dip into depending on your mood. That's exactly what you get. The projects range from working with self-hardening clay to embroidery, each designed to offer creative fun, mindfulness and a finished project that you'll like to show.

There are some cute ideas in this feel-good craft book. I am just not a huge fan of craft books that have so many different types of projects. Are people going to want to go out and get all of the supplies for the different kinds of crafts? With the internet and videos I almost think the days of general craft books are over. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Craft Your Own Happy by Becci Mai Ford, is a cute craft book with a side of mindfulness. I like that it features quite a few different crafts; ones that would appeal to both novice and experienced crafters. Ford interjects mindfulness practices (taking time for oneself) along with patterns, instructions, and inspiration. She takes the expectation of difficultness out of the crafting process.

The writing style was fun and inviting, but the projects highlighted or offered in the book were a bit lackluster, feeling a bit too familiar or known.

It was a nice book. The ideas were all good. Gave nice and new ideas on decorating the home. It can easily followed by almost everyone. Would recommend this book for people who are beginners.

This book looks so sweet, which what drew me in. The premise, of matching your craft to your emotional state, and using time to make as time for self care, is appealing. I can imagine needle felting being great for anxiety, and There is a whole range of crafts, from the very simple to the more complex.
There is enough detail clearly laid out to allow the reader to get stuck in and try a craft, but not enough to become expert in any one thing - if that's what you want it's not the book for you.
The materials for most projects are easily come by and relatively inexpensive, and some are child-friendly (like the painted gratitude stones or the clay dish moulded on a leaf). Templates at the back are clear and instructions are easy to follow.
The author's personal aesthetic is strong and the book packs a visual punch.
Each chapter comes with musings on how to be more mindful and look after yourself in the every day.
I can imagine this book being a lovely gift for someone who wants to practice mindfulness in an active way and switch off from their moods for a while.

This is a sweet and fun book that combines craft projects with self care, with a goal of helping with depression and anxiety through crafting. The projects are broken down into chapters like get outside (using materials you gathered outside since nature is so helpful), anxiety makes (where you use practices like intricate embroidery in all different colors and stitches to calm anxiety), gratitude makes and hibernate crafts that are things like eye masks and hand warmers, among other themes.

The projects are all very colorful and happy. Note that there's an aesthetic to most of these that is rather cute, so if you're more of a minimalist or into more adult looking crafts then these might not be a great fit. Some are able to be more personalized like the resin phone case where you put natural items like pressed flowers in it, while others are from patterns that tend towards colorful and somewhat young.

The crafts cover a wide range of types and most are easy to do from any skill level, such as simple sewing, making pom poms for a footstool, embroidery, resin pouring and working with air dry clay. Full color illustrations show every step for every craft. There are also full-color patterns provided for the projects at the end of the book. Along the way, the author talks about ways to boost happiness and reduce anxiety and depression through a variety of means and shares personal anecdotes of her own. There is a real uplifting, sweet vibe to the whole book.

I don't think most of the crafts are really my type of crafts, so I don't know that I will make any of them. I tend towards more open-ended crafts and also like the sort where you can use odds and ends from around the house rather than purchased materials. If you like crafts where the whole project is planned for you and you like bright colors and cute designs, this will be a great fit.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

I enjoyed the focus on crafting as a mindfulness activity in this book. The author sharing their motivation behind the book and their business was also useful for me, someone toying around with the idea of starting a small business. The author sticks to this idea of mindfulness and the crafts do match with the assigned emotional states. The crafts do range in ability and accessibility of materials - there are some crafts that are cheaper material wise while others require more substantial materials (and skills to use them). The steps are illustrated and well written. There is minimal front introductory materials for embroidery which is an activity used throughout the chapters. You could easily crank up or down the cuteness on these crafts as well - if you want it to be a geometric planter without a cute face, you can do it. The cute toast face - you could tweak it into something different.

Overall a fun crafting book that is good for all crafters and a good way to create a conversation with people of all ages about mindfulness and anxiety.

I received a free digital ARC through NetGalley. This guide has engaging, full color photos and easy to follow instructions.

Craft Your Own Happy by Becci Mai Ford is an aesthetically pleasing book detailing 25 craft activities to help one connect with their innermost self. Whilst I really enjoyed the cute, kitschy craft activities such as 'Stitch your own eye mask' and 'honeycomb quilted cushion,' the book is targeted towards a very specific audience who value cuteness and 'kawaii'-ness but also may have a hand at Pinterest arts and crafts.

Overall, lovely book for the right audience.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this book of crafts. In the current climate it was just what was needed. It made me happy & I loved trying out new things; from painting rocks to trying embroidery. Thank you for making me smile & appreciating a little bit of mindfulness!

This a visually appealing book full of crafts for all interests and skill levels. From the Daily Ritual Embroidery to the Hand Sewn Eye Mask, there is a fun craft for everyone. The instructions are clearly written and illustrated. The projects are all done with materials that are easy to obtain, this really is an accessible set of crafts. Mixing in anecdotes about mindfulness adds a nice dimension to each project. I can't wait to try a few of these with the Yarn Wall Hanging looking like a soothing way to use up my rainbow of yarn ends from other knitting ventures.

I was gifted a copy of a digital version of tjis book from the publisher Pen & Sword via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and should be taken as such.

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast and had some really cute crafts that people could do with plenty of steps and photos along the way.

Craft Your Own Happy was a super book. Its full of great projects that you can do at home that will definately make you happy.

I really enjoyed reading this book and have come away with lots of new creative ideas to get making. The instructions were easy to follow and the photography is excellent as well.

Thank to Netgalley and Pen and Sword/White Owl for the ARC, My review is my own opinion.

Will Review on Amazon once Published.

This is an okay craft book. It has a variety of projects to make and also tries to connect the practice of mindfulness with the hobby of crafting. It does a decent job of doing that. My objection is that many of the finished objects are very cutesy and childish. I would have liked at least a few of the patterns to be more substantial and less silly.

This book encourages folks to make items using a variety of craft skills to relax, and relieve stress. The variety of crats used is so great that readers are sure to find several projects of interest.

Some projects require such basic skills that they can be done by even a small child, Most of the projects are such that an older child or adult could make them successfully with no previous experience. Only a few require either skills beyond the most basic or tools that should not be handled by a child.

The book has pictures explaining some projects step=by-step.

While these projects are very basic and the finished results often look amateurish, it does have great, easy projects.

Like the author, I too am my calmest when crafting. I have an extensive background in creating which is why this book probably isn't for me... that said the author does a good job of providing a wide variety of projects utilizing many different techniques, skill levels, interests and project time. Part inspirational, part how-to, this is a nice introduction to finding a project for you!