Craft Your Own Happy: A collection of 25 creative projects to craft your way to mindfulness

by Becci Mai Ford

Suitable for beginners - you don’t need to be a crafting expert to make the projects in this book! Includes easy to follow instructions and free templates.

Craft Your Own Happy is a collection of mindful craft projects to make you smile! Perfect for those moments when you need a bit of self-care and relaxation time.

Do you ever feel like you spend too much of your day staring at screens, feeling anxious or stressed out? If the answer is yes - then you need this book! The cute colorful projects have all been designed with the feel-good-factor in mind. Crafting can help to take you away from the worries and pressures of your daily life, and give you back those moments of slowness and focus which can help to reduce anxiety.

Unlike other craft books, this is a book that you can dip into and find projects based upon how you are feeling. So you can craft to suit your mood! There are 25 beginner friendly projects to choose from including cross stitching, embroidery, paper craft and more… Why worry when you can craft happy!

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book with lots of lovely projects.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to making some of the items starting with the Honeycomb Quilted Cushions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Craft your own happy is a beautiful, quirky craft book with some fantastic, doable projects to help with mindfullnes especially if you suffer with anxiety or depression.

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.

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this little book. I love to craft anyway and practise mindfulness so a book that combines the two is always going to be a winner for me. There are lots of crafts to dip in and out of and all give step by step instructions which is really helpful especially for ones that you may have not done before. I've been toying with the idea of doing some resin work and so the crafts here I think are great for me to have a go at it. The embroidery crafts look on the surface like they may get me over my fear of stitching without a colour by numbers kit. I'm reading from a netgalley ARC but have already got the book sat in my basket for release date so I can have the templates and give some of the crafts a go.

There are also a few helpful hints and tips about self care, mindfulness and getting out and about in nature. All in all a wonderful craft book and I'm looking forward to the having the book in my hands.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book is that there is a craft in here for everyone. Whether you're an experienced crafter or you haven't made anything since those macaroni necklaces in preschool, you'll find an idea (or five) here to match your skill level, from cross-stitch to origami. With an emphasis on crafting as a method to improve mental health, Becci Mai Ford's ideas are fun and colorful, with thorough details and suggestions.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of cute ideas my favourite being the mini flower wall Instagram style in miniature as well as the embroidery hoop art as I love doing those already as well as cross stitch which she also included crafts for.

Using a rainbow of colour this book will help use your creative time to try and help mental health as Becci talks of her own anxiety struggle previously I too agree craft can be a fabulous distraction and makes you produce something beautiful with all the time not spent worrying instead!

There's indoor and outdoor inspiration and ways to get children involved and helping out too the book is great for families not just individuals.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found a fun new craft to create.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Craft Your Own Happy is a nice collection of beginner accessible feel-good crafting projects. Due out 30th Sept 2020 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

I enjoyed this book. The pictures are all very clear and colorful, the projects are well designed and appealing, and the text is upbeat and encouraging. The introduction includes a discussion of tools, supplies, and basic techniques. The bulk of the book is taken up by the 26 (by my count) projects. The projects themselves are varied and attractive, from an adorable needle felted unicorn, macrame, wall decorations, and more. Most all of the projects could certainly be easily adapted to other finishes. All of the templates are included. Each tutorial contains an introduction, materials list (nothing too exotic or difficult to source), and step by step photo tutorials from start to finish. Tips and alternative finishes are included in the tutorials. There is no included links or supplies list (the tools and supplies used are not exotic and will not be difficult to source). There's also no index, but there is a well-laid-out table of contents with all the tutorials listed.

Although the author's focus is on the solitary crafter - emphasizing mindfulness in the creative process to alleviate anxiety, stress, and other negative feelings, it would also be a great selection for a makers group, library crafting group (when we're allowed to assemble again), studio library, classroom or other formal instruction, or home studio. A lot of these projects would also be great for younger crafters (some might require some adult help).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jenny K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you ever feel like you spend too much of your day staring at screens, feeling anxious or stressed out? If the answer is yes – then you need this book! The cute colourful projects have all been designed with the feel-good-factor in mind. Crafting can help to take you away from the worries and pressures of your daily life, and give you back those moments of slowness and focus which can help to reduce anxiety.

Unlike other craft books, this is a book that you can dip into and find projects based upon how you are feeling. So you can craft to suit your mood! There are 25 beginner friendly projects to choose from including cross stitching, embroidery, paper craft and more. Why worry when you can craft happy!

This is a fun and colourful craft book packed with ideas. Split into sections such as Gratitude Makes, Anxiety Makes and Self-Care Crafting it will appeal to anyone who finds making and creating essential to their mental well-being. If you love crafting then you might not find many new-to-you ideas but there are some crafts I can’t wait to try, including the kawaii concrete planter and the origami stars. It’s a fun craft book and the projects will certainly soothe your mind and keep your hands busy.

[Penny Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mackenzie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craft Your Own Happy is not only a unique DYI book, but the author also dives into mental health and well-being. The 25 projects she has chosen for this book are all designed to help assist in practicing mindfulness and ease an anxious mind. Throughout the book, the author also provides notes on what has helped her with her anxiety and journey to being mindful.

In terms of the projects themselves, they are all quirky and cute! I was specifically drawn to the daily ritual embroidery, pressed flower phone case and the kawaii concrete planter! The directions are all simple to follow with lots of pictures, and some have a template you can use that is provided in the back of the book.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful DIY book that did an excellent job of tying mental health in it in a way where it was helpful and insightful.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that crosses talking about mental health and well-being with practical ways of caring for them. This is more than just a craft book, although the crafts are gorgeous and quirky there is also reasoning behind the makes and how they assist in practicing “Mindfulness”. The introduction gives a brief description of how the projects can help calm an anxious mind. The projects themselves are of varying difficulty levels- I especially enjoyed the look of the cross stitches (even though I have never done one before! Shock horror) , the pressed flower phone case and the Pom Pom foot stool (currently browsing Amazon for a Pom Pom maker). After beginning to make the Yarn Wall Hanging I can say that the directions are simple and easy to follow and I loved the pictures throughout the book.
I cannot wait to buy this book for a wonderful friend who I think will love it (and really benefit from it ) too.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crafting can help calm minds and hands, but it can also cause anxiety because there's so much and what if you do it wrong and what if and what if? Craft Your Own Happy tackles the problems of what to do and how to do it with colorful--but not saccharine--pictures and clear instructions. There's a variety of crafts so even seasoned crafters will find new projects. People who haven't crafted since grade school will be greeted with lots of ideas and instructions that guide and encourage.

As someone with anxiety, I found the breakdown of crafts by the kind of makes rather than type of craft to be very helpful. Sometimes you know how you're feeling but not what you need to do. I love that there's no judgement about skills or time spent making. The instructions are gentle and no pressure. Crafts like resin casting that can be intimidating are handled in a way that makes them seem about as easy as making a pompom. It's very soothing and encouraging.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craft your own happy is a wonderfully cute book, Becci has set out to do something important, to help everyone take time for mindfulness, and with inspired projects and tidbits on mental health and well being she has achieved this.

The book includes detailed step by step instructions, and pictures, that means even an absolute beginner can feel confident tackling the more difficult crafts. The book gives you all the information you need to customise your projects and the book even encourages you to do so.


Included are a range of craft types, some with easily accessible materials and some with slightly more expensive ones.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to doing some mindful crafting.


*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review purposes*

[roxi Net · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craft Your Own Happy is the type of book you can dip in and out of depending on your mood.

This book is divided into eight chapters after the introduction:
- Anxiety makes
- Get outside
- Happy Home
- Gratitude Makes
- Tidy Mind Makes
- Self-care crafting
- Hibernate

The book has projects on crafts such as embroidery, flower walls, keyrings using needle felting, clay, using resin and more. There are lots to choose from, though it does means lots of different equipment depending on your mood. Some projects only take a few hours, others take longer as they may need to dry or weeks as it's a long term make.

The instructions are quite detailed and also come with step by step colour photography too. The rear of the book provides templates for some of the makes

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Oxana Tomova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craft Your Own Happy includes 25 very different DYI projects to help you feel better. The author has added notes on what has helped her with bad mood and anxiety, which makes reading the book feel like getting wanted advice from a friend.
I liked some projects more than others, but they are all colourful and look fun to make. The instructions are easy to follow and I really appreciate how neatly all needed materials for each project are listed.
And if you don't feel creative enough to try a project for the first time with a fully original idea? The author has covered that as well by adding templates at the end of the book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

[Irenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based on a free copy received from Netgalley.com in digital form.

This was a great craft book, which helps you craft your way through stress and anxiety.

The instructions for each of the 25 crafts are easy to understand and uses items that are easy to find. The crafts are simply yet able to engage your mind. They allow you to move your focus from anxiety to mindfulness and relaxation.

The crafts range from embroidery to nature to painting and use of yarn. There are items for every crafting level. They range from super cute to more adult ones.

This is a great book for a reluctant crafter and people who need to slow down and reduce their anxiety and stress and looking for new outlets.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sincerely absolutely love this book! The ideas and projects are not just fun they are inspirational and the range is amazing. There is a little bit of everything in here and I will be honest.... That pom pom footstool is happening for my granddaughter who will love it!!! This book is very thorough and the pictures are vivid and well done. There are plenty of stress relievers as well as really beautiful creations. I love the resin beach necklace.

I really highly recommend this book for any art lover!

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
#CraftYourOwnHappy #NetGalley

[Callista Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shraddha · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craft Your Own Happy by Becci Mai Ford. Clear and detailed instructions, materials lists, and templates are provided. Different DIY crafts that can ease daily stress and invoke your creative spirit. Intrigued by the inspirational mini origami stars and being a cat lover, the kitty hand warmer is of great interest. These two will most likely be the first two projects I will try to make.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.