Challenge #140--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of: Crafting by the Numbers—2nd Quarter: Use 4 Spring Papers/Cardstocks…Midway

 

Hey folks! Welcome back to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog! It is the third Monday of the month and that means that it is time to present the midway for Challenge #140. It is my fond hope that each of you and your own families continue to stay happy, safe, and well, wherever it is you live in this big wide world of ours. 

As we are a unique kind of challenge blog, it is important for you to understand how things work. Please be sure to check out the START POST FOUND HERE for the specific details related to this month's challenge, and you can find out all the general details you need to know in order to participate, by clicking on the 'Challenge Details' tab (located at the top of the blog). For your convenience, a summary of the most important rules can now be found in the right sidebar under the heading 'General Rules'.
 
Right now, it is time to continue with our midway. Here is a refresher of the details for our current twist:

 

  

Challenge #140

Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of 

Crafting by the Numbers—

2nd Quarter: Use 4 Spring 

Papers/Cardstocks

 

The Path of Positivity turns 13 this year! While the number 13 has long carried a reputation for being unlucky, we’re choosing to embrace it as a symbol of growth, perseverance, and creative courage. After all, 13 years of inspiration, kindness, and community feels pretty lucky to us. Since this year marks an important number for us, we've decided that NUMBERS should be the overall focus in our theme for 2026 (click here if you'd like to read more in depth about our overall theme for 2026)!

Throughout the year, our monthly card challenges will be inspired by specific numbers. Whether numbers speak to you mathematically, symbolically, spiritually, or simply as a design prompt, we hope this theme invites you to think a little differently, stretch your imagination, and—most of all—have fun. Let’s make this a year where numbers truly count. As we are entering the fourth month, it is time to discuss the number four.

 

The number four carries a depth of symbolism, showing up consistently across cultural, philosophical, and spiritual traditions. At its core, it represents structure, stability, and a strong foundation. These ideas shape both nature and human thinking, as seen in early philosophy, especially in ancient Greece, where earth, air, fire, and water were regarded as the basic elements of nature. Similarly, the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—help create a way to understand direction and balance.

 

The meaning of four also relates to time and natural cycles. The division of the year into four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) exhibits the measured advancement of time, promoting both change and continuity. Across various traditions, similar patterns can be seen in other ways of understanding the world. Whether it is in the four phases of the moon (New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last/Third Quarter), the four humours of medieval medicine (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile), or the four ages of human life described in various Indigenous philosophies such as those of the Sioux (infancy, youth, adulthood, elderhood). Even in religious and ethical systems, this pattern endures. Classical Christian thought identifies four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) each contributing to a balanced and moral life, while biblical symbolism often uses four to represent the completeness of creation and God’s ordered world.

In numerology, four is associated with dependability, discipline, and productivity. It mirrors qualities such as patience, trustworthiness, and a respect for tradition—all traits that support long-term growth and stability. Repeating sequences like 44 or 444 are often interpreted as messages of reassurance, suggesting that one is supported and guided in building a secure future. However, like many symbols, the number four is not without complexity. In some cultures, particularly in China, it is connected to death because of similar sounds, showing how meanings can vary between cultures.

Even with these differences, the idea of four still represents structure and balance. It shows up in everyday life in simple but important ways—from the corners of a room to the structures that support buildings and ideas. Creatively, this makes it an ideal foundation for designs or concepts that aim to feel grounded, organized, and harmonious. Whether seen in seasons, balanced layouts, or structured designs, four creates stability while allowing growth within a clear form.

As you can see, the number four often represents structure, stability, and strong foundations. As we move into the second quarter of the year, we’re grounding our creativity in spring by using four seasonal papers or cardstocks. Think fresh colours, blooming patterns, and designs that feel rooted and renewed.

Here are some ideas that you can mix and match to come up with your four papers.

Start off with a statement paper. You could try:

• Bold floral prints such as peonies, tulips, daisies or cherry blossoms.
• Hand-painted or illustrated garden patterns.
• Vintage botanical prints.

Include something that feels rooted and natural, such as:

• Kraft paper or warm tan cardstock.
• Woodgrain textures or bark-inspired patterns.
• Speckled or recycled paper with visible fibres.
• Muted terracotta, clay, or soft brown tones.

You could add papers that set the tone for the awakening of spring. For example:

• Pale greens, mint, or soft sage cardstock.
• Subtle watercolour washes or ombré fades.
• Light linen or textured papers.
• Patterns with tiny sprigs, new leaves, or delicate vines.

Finally, add a paper to bring in the playful, uplifting side of spring. These could include:

• Soft pastels--butter yellow, blush pink, sky blue, lavender.
• Polka dots, gingham, or simple geometric repeats.
• Butterflies, bees, or whimsical seasonal motifs.
• Subtle shimmer, vellum overlays, or translucent papers for lightness.

 

These are just some examples of the types of papers/cardstock that you could employ. Just remember that even though you’re using four distinct papers, be sure to keep at least one element consistent—like a shared colour palette, similar scale of patterns, or a repeated accent colour. 

Remember, the twist is completely optional and you don't need to follow it in order to win. However, in order to be considered eligible for this month's goodies, remember that general types of projects/posts will not qualify for the honours and prize UNLESS they are also positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. Additionally, even if a project may qualify as positive, if your post promotes negativity, hatred or anything of an abhorrent nature, your project will be disqualified. Honours and Prize include:

• $6 worth of images from Scribbles Designs, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
• A badge for the following honours: Top Pick, Most Inspirational, Random Winner, DT Delight.

 

References

Astratarot (n.d.) Meaning of Number 4 in Numerology. Available at: https://astratarot.net/pages/guides/meaning-of-number-4-in-numerology (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: 4. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/4.html (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Centre of Excellence (2024) Number 4 in Numerology: Strengths, Weaknesses & Spiritual Insights. Available at: https://www.centreofexcellence.com/4-in-numerology/ (Accessed: 4 April 2026). 

Encyclopaedia Britannica (n.d.) The number four. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/the-number-four (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Geo-Numerology (n.d.) The number 4: numerology, geometry and psychology. Available at: https://geo-numerology.com/anatomy-of-the-number-4 (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

NASA (n.d.) Moon phases. Available at: https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/  (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Patreon (n.d.) Power spiritual… Available at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/power-spiritual-121307886  (Accessed: 4 April 2026).
Revemelu (n.d.) Symbolism of the number 4. Available at: https://revemelu.com/symbolism-of-the-number-4/ (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

SAY Magazine (n.d.) The seven lessons of the medicine wheel. Available at: https://saymag.com/the-seven-lessons-of-the-medicine-wheel/ (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Symbolopedia (2024) Symbolism & Meaning of Four (4). Available at: https://symbolopedia.com/symbolism-meaning-of-four-4/ (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

UEF Foundation (n.d.) Groupings of Four in World Beliefs. Available at: https://www.uef.org/lessons/article-groupings-of-four/ (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Wicked Witch’s Web (n.d.) The Numerological Significance of Four. Available at: https://www.wickedwitchsweb.com/the-numerological-significance-of-four (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

Wikipedia (n.d.) Humorism. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorism  (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

World Numerology (n.d.) Numerology meaning of 4. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-4/  (Accessed: 4 April 2026).

 

Chat GPT was used to help me polish some elements of writing, to come up with some examples of paper ideas and to also format my references. 

 

To help inspire you further down the path of Crafting by the Numbers—2nd Quarter: Use 4 Spring Papers/Cardstocks, check out the wonderful projects my Design Team had the opportunity to create. Clicking on each team member's name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creations. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again to my remarkable design team! As always, each member brings a distinctive creative perspective that I deeply admire. Every one of these designs captures the theme Crafting by the Numbers—2nd Quarter: Use 4 Spring Papers/Cardstocks beautifully, and I hope they’ve inspired you throughout this challenge to create a handmade project of your own. Be sure to visit these talented ladies to see how thoughtfully their projects incorporate the twist.

 

Why not join us, if you haven't entered already? Create a project and/or post that is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature and join our link up. How about stretching yourself by also opting to follow the twist?! How are you influenced by numbers? Do you rely on any spiritual or cultural interpretations to help you process the various ways that number influence your life? As it is now April, we are up to number FOUR in our Crafting by Numbers journey. As such, this month it is time to add four spring themed patterned papers or cardstocks to your creation. Be sure to check above for some specific ideas if you aren't sure how to get started. If you want to share your process on how you decided your project, you can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on this post if you'd like.

Also, I know that the participants would love for you to go and pay them a visit. Remember we're creating a Path of Positivity to follow one project at a time and we'd love to see you somewhere on that route even if it is just by leaving a comment on an entry from someone who has touched you somehow with their project and/or post! You can find our list of participants and enter our latest challenge yourself by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the bottom of the post.

 

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY…

Please show your support to our wonderful sponsor, Scribbles Designs, by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance. You may also just find an image or two to add your your collection!

Thank you so much to this awesome Canadian company for their
continued support of this challenge blog!

Don't Forget...

Winners for challenge #139 will be posted next Monday if everything goes according to plan. You can find the Top Picks post HERE.

 

If you ever have any questions be sure to leave me a comment.

 

Click HERE to head to the current challenge post & link up!

 

 

We look forward to seeing you participate!