🌞🌞 Health Update & Summer Break Reminder 🌞🌞

Hello there folks! I'm just popping in with an update and a reminder that we are taking our summer break. 

First the update. As some of you will have noticed, things have been a little bit behind here at The Path of Positivity. We've yet to publish the winner announcement for April, started our June challenge 10 days late, then the midway didn't get posted when I had planned.

 

The reason for all of this is that I have been extremely ill for the last several months. I have been battling some pretty serious health problems that have left me with a number of ailments, including a lack of stamina and an inability to apply myself to activities requiring mental fortitude. It got to a point where I was unable to even hold my head up for very long, never mind sit a computer and work. 

 

These issues culminated in a seven day stay at the hospital where I underwent an invasive medical procedure followed two days later by surgery. I have been back home a little over a week and while I am healing, it is definitely a struggle. While two of my medical issues have been mostly resolved there are still two that need addressing soon. I just don't have a time table as of yet. 

 

As a result of all of this, my ability to get any work on the blog done has been extremely hampered. Even now, I am only able to sit and work at the computer for very brief periods of time before I become completely exhausted.

 

Therefore it is good timing that we have come to our annual break. Over the last few years, we have made the decision to take time off in the summer. This year we will again be off for the month of July AND the month of August. Typically, we take a break for the following reasons:

1. Since it is summer time here in North America, Britain, Europe and other locales in the northern hemisphere, many of our players are out of the house and enjoying the warmer weather;
2. My hard working Design Team deserves a little bit of time off; and 
3. It gives me the opportunity to do some catching up with everything I'm always so far behind on by mid year.

This year, the timing of our break couldn't be better given the health issues I am dealing with. I hope that we will be back in September but it will depend on how things progress. I need to take some time right now to focus on myself until my health is better on track. 

 

Now, if you are waiting on the Winner Announcements from our April and May challenges, I hope to be able to put them together before the start of September. I will do my best but I can't make any promises.  

 

If you are waiting on the Top Picks and Winner Announcement from our June challenge, we'll be back with those posts in September, taking place during the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month in their regular spots.

I truly hope that you will all continue to support us when we return on September 7th for our next challenge (as long as everything goes according to plan). My hope is that in taking this time off, I'll be able to come back in the fall, stronger and renewed. Your understanding is appreciated.

For the time being, I really hope that those of you living in the northern hemisphere are all enjoying your summer and for those of you in the southern hemisphere, I hope that your winter isn't too harsh. It is my fondest hope that you are able to make the most out of the next two months, whatever your circumstances in life!

Take care everyone, stay walking on your own Path of Positivity if you can and we'll see you all again real soon.

 

 

PS: Don't forget that since we started late in June, the current challenge doesn't end until Wednesday, July 10th, at 11:59 p.m. You can find the link for that challenge by clicking HERE.

Challenge #142--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of: Crafting by the Numbers—Bring on the Bling: Use 6 Embellishments…Midway

 

Ummm...oops. This was scheduled to go out on June 22nd but I just noticed that the post was open in my browser, and while I had apparently added the correct date, I never actually hit the button to publish. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, I ended up going into the hospital on June 19th for a full week and am currently recovering from surgery so this is the first chance that I have had to check on things. 

 

Now back to the midway post... 

 

Hey folks! Welcome back to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog! It is time to present the midway for Challenge #142. 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 #142

Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of 

Crafting by the Numbers—

Bring on the Bling: Use 6 Embellishments

The Path of Positivity turned 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.

Designers often look to symbolism to add meaning to their work, and the number six offers plenty of inspiration. Across cultures, philosophies, and spiritual traditions, six is often associated with harmony, beauty, responsibility, and care. Unlike numbers that suggest change or adventure, six is more closely connected to stability and nurturing relationships. This makes it a wonderful source of inspiration for greeting cards, scrapbook layouts, mixed-media projects, and other creative designs.

At its core, six is linked to love, service, and balance. In numerology, it is often known as the number of the caregiver because of its connection to family, home, and compassion. Six is also known as the first "perfect number" in mathematics because its divisors (1, 2, and 3) add up to equal six. Because of this, it has long been seen as a symbol of balance and completeness. Designers can use these ideas to create projects that feel warm, thoughtful, and welcoming.

Culturally, six appears in many interesting ways. In Chinese culture, the number six is often considered lucky because it is associated with smooth progress and good fortune. In Jewish tradition, six can represent the physical world through the six directions of space: north, south, east, west, up, and down. These examples show how six is often linked to order, connection, and harmony.

In Christian tradition, six is associated with creation and humanity. According to the Book of Genesis, the world was created in six days before the seventh day of rest. Because of this, six is often connected to caring for others, being responsible, and putting effort into meaningful work. For designers, this symbolism can inspire projects that celebrate kindness, encouragement, family, and friendship.

Spiritually, six is often seen as a symbol of harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds. One of the best-known symbols connected to six is the six-pointed star, which is made from two overlapping triangles. It has often been used to represent balance and unity. Six also appears throughout nature. Honeycombs are made up of six-sided hexagons, and many snowflakes display six-fold symmetry. These natural patterns show how beauty and structure can work together.

In creative design, the number six naturally lends itself to balanced and attractive layouts. Designers might use six gems around a focal image, six flowers clustered together, or six embellishments placed along a border to guide the viewer's eye. Six repeated elements can create honeycomb-inspired patterns, while snowflakes, hexagons, and six-petalled flowers can subtly reinforce the theme. Even using six coordinating colours can help create a sense of harmony and unity. These visual examples show how six can be incorporated into a design in both obvious and subtle ways.

Using the number six in design is about celebrating the thoughtful details that make something special. Through cultural, spiritual, and visual symbolism, six reminds us of the importance of care, connection, and beauty. It encourages us to create projects that feel meaningful, balanced, and heartfelt.

This month, we're bringing on the bling by encouraging you to use six embellishments in your design. Six is frequently associated with care, beauty, and responsibility, often connected to home, humanity, and nurturing relationships. Across traditions, it can reflect harmony between the physical and the spiritual. Adding six embellishments this month is a way to honour thoughtful details—the finishing touches that turn something handmade into something heartfelt.

For designers taking on the challenge, consider using six embellishments to create balance and visual interest. You might choose six gems for sparkle, six flowers for beauty, six pearls for elegance, or six decorative accents that help tell a story. Try arranging them in a circle, a hexagon, or around a focal image to draw the eye across your design. Whether your style is simple or richly detailed, these six finishing touches can add personality, depth, and a little extra shine to your project.

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

BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: The number 6. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/6.html (Accessed: 6 June 2026). 

Encyclopaedia Britannica (2026) Number symbolism: Pythagoreanism – The number 6. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-symbolism/Pythagoreanism (Accessed: 6 June 2026).
Centre of Excellence (2025) Number 6 in Numerology: Strengths, Weaknesses, & Spiritual Insights. Available at: https://www.centreofexcellence.com/numerology-number-6/ (Accessed: 6 June 2026).
Numerologist (n.d.) Meaning, Mystery and Magic of the Number 6. Available at: https://numerologist.com/numerology/meaning-mystery-and-magic-of-the-number-6/ (Accessed: 7 June 2026).
Andrews, B. (2025) Number 6 Meaning: The Lovers, Beauty and Responsibility. Numerologist. Available at: https://www.numerologist.com/meanings/numbers-1-to-9/number-6-meaning (Accessed: 8 June 2026).
Science of Numbers (2024) Numerology Root Number 6. Available at: https://scienceofnumbers.com/numerology-root-number-6/ (Accessed: 7 June 2026).
World Numerology (2024) Numerology Meaning of number 6. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-6/  (Accessed: 7 June 2026).

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

To help inspire you further down the path of Crafting by the Numbers—Bring on the Bling: Use 6 Embellishments, 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—Bring on the Bling: Use 6 Embellishments 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 the sixth month of the year, we are up to number six in our Crafting by Numbers journey. As such, this month it is time to create a project with six embellishments. 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...

Due to illness, I wasn't able to post the start until June 10th (instead of June 1st). Therefore, this particular challenge won't end until 11:59 p.m., JULY 10th!

 

I still have to do the winner announcement for challenge #140 as well as challenge #141. I hope to post them sometime before the end of August. You can find the Top Picks post for challenge #141 HERE. 

 

I'll be posting a reminder about taking the summer off, very soon.

 

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!

Ch. #141 Top Picks (May)

WELCOME TO THE CHALLENGE #141 POP TOP!

Hello folks; Katrina stepping in for Lisa.  Lisa's dedication and creativity inspire us all. We are wishing her a speedy recovery so we can have her back with us very soon.   

We  hope that your Path this past week has included a number of positive moments along the route and that you and your families are all doing your best to stay healthy and happy. 

 

It is time to present the top picks from the last challenge. Since we had -- incredible entries in Challenge #141 (click HERE to see the original challenge with the optional twist of Crafting by Numbers—5 Layer Cake: Make it Sweet &/or Use 5 Layers), it is time to get on with showcasing the seven projects and/or write-ups that touched the team the most. In case you are new and wondering why seven and not the typical three, four or even five? Any time that we have more than 14 entries, we have a top seven (with 14 entries or under we just have a top three). We always strive to be a bit different over here on the Path of Positivity and this is just another way to do so. Additionally, seven is a spiritual number and thus right in the wheelhouse of the vibe we are looking to project; so, seven it is when enough people join in. 

 

Thus, without further ado, please let me introduce you to the Top Picks for Challenge #141…

Deanne  

Becca

Betta

Deanne

Carol

Jenn

Mia

Congrats Ladies... 

As a participant who has been chosen as a Top Pick in this challenge, 

you are entitled to a special Challenge #141 Top Pick Badge.

Please feel free to grab a copy for your blog...

 

  

Well, that is it for this one. Please join us again soon (as long as everything goes according to plan), when we will be back with our midway. 

 
Do your best to continue stay safe, healthy and positive out there in your daily life and hopefully we'll see you all again soon!!!

Until next time,