Challenge #144--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of: Crafting by the Numbers—October 10th: Celebrate World Mental Health Day…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 #144. 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 #144

Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of 

Crafting by the Numbers—

October 10th: Celebrate World Mental Health Day

 

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.

 

For October, we're turning our attention to the number 10! And, because October 10th is World Mental Health Day, we're giving this month's number a particularly meaningful twist. Ten is often associated with ideas such as completeness, wholeness, order, and reaching an important milestone. That makes it a wonderful number for a month centred around kindness, encouragement, connection, and reminding someone that they matter.

World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October each year and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and encourage support for people affected by mental health difficulties. While our challenge isn't about creating a card that needs to be specifically about mental illness, it is a wonderful opportunity to think about the power of a small, positive gesture. A handmade card can say, "I'm thinking of you," "You are important," "You've got this," or simply, "I'm here."

Designers often look to symbolism to add another layer of meaning to their work, and ten has some fascinating connections across cultures, religions, mathematics, and everyday life. Because we normally count in groups of ten, the number can naturally feel like a point of completion—a full set, a milestone, or the end of one stage before beginning another. We have ten fingers and ten toes, our decimal number system is based on ten, and we often use ten as a convenient way of measuring progress, achievement, or a complete collection.

 

In ancient Greek philosophy, ten had a particularly interesting place in the Pythagorean tradition. The Pythagoreans regarded ten as especially significant and associated it with the tetractys, a triangular arrangement of ten points representing the first four numbers: one, two, three and four. Because these numbers add up to ten, the tetractys gave the number a sense of unity and completeness. For creative people, this makes ten a lovely number to play with visually—ten points, ten shapes, ten stars, ten flowers, or ten little details arranged into a pleasing pattern.

Ten also has important connections in Jewish tradition. The Ten Commandments are perhaps the best-known example, forming a central part of Jewish religious tradition. There is another meaningful connection through the Ten Days of Repentance, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These days are traditionally associated with reflection, repentance, and making positive changes. That idea of pausing, reflecting, and considering how we can do better fits beautifully with our October focus on mental well-being and encouragement.

Christianity also gives us several significant connections to the number ten. The Ten Commandments are also a central part of Christian teaching, providing principles concerned with our relationship with God and with how we treat other people. The New Testament also includes the Parable of the Ten Virgins, in which ten women await the bridegroom, with the story highlighting the importance of being prepared and watchful. Together, these examples make ten a number that can suggest responsibility, reflection, readiness, and living thoughtfully.

In Islam, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are regarded as a particularly blessed period. They are associated with increased worship, good deeds, charity, remembrance, and reflection, and include the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha. Once again, we see ten connected with a period of purposeful action and making the most of an important opportunity.

Ten also has an interesting place in Sikh tradition. Sikhism was guided by ten human Gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Gobind Singh. After the tenth Guru, the Guruship passed to the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. Rather than ten representing a particular universal quality in Sikh teaching, this is a beautiful example of how a number can become meaningful through history and tradition.

In Chinese culture, ten can also suggest completeness and perfection. The Chinese expression "十全十美" (shí quán shí měi) is commonly understood as describing something that is complete and perfect. This gives us another lovely connection for our challenge: the idea that something doesn't have to be enormous or complicated to feel complete. Sometimes it is the thoughtful details that make a project feel just right.
And that brings us back to our October theme.

Mental health and emotional well-being can sometimes feel like enormous subjects, but encouragement doesn't have to be complicated. A small act of kindness can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and cared about. A handmade card might arrive on a difficult day, celebrate a small victory, offer encouragement during a challenging time, or simply brighten someone's afternoon.

In creative design, there are countless ways to incorporate ten into your project. You might use ten flowers, ten gems, ten stars, ten hearts, ten leaves, ten butterflies, or ten other embellishments. Try arranging ten elements around a focal image, placing them in a circle, creating a border of ten repeated shapes, or using ten tiny details hidden throughout your design.

You could also let the number inspire the sentiment or subject of your project. Create a card with ten reasons why someone is special, ten things you love about a friend, ten little reminders to keep going, or ten words of encouragement. A journal page could feature ten things you're grateful for, ten things that make you smile, ten positive affirmations, or ten small moments worth remembering.

You might create a "10 things I love about you" card for a partner, friend, child, parent, grandparent or someone else in your life that is important to you. Try "10 reasons you're amazing", "10 reasons to smile", "10 things that make you special", or "10 reminders that you've got this". A birthday card for someone turning ten would obviously fit beautifully, as would a tenth wedding anniversary, or another meaningful milestone involving the number ten.

Don't forget that ten can be incorporated into the design without being the main subject. Use ten pearls around a sentiment, ten sequins scattered across a background, ten leaves around a floral image, ten stars in a night sky, or ten little hearts tucked into a patterned border. You could even use ten coordinating colours, ten layers, ten die-cut shapes, or ten stamped images if that suits your crafting style.

For something more interactive, why not make a card that opens to reveal ten little messages? You could create ten flaps, pockets, tags, or panels, each containing a positive thought or encouraging message. A mixed-media project could include ten meaningful words, while a scrapbook page could feature ten photographs celebrating happy memories.

This month, we're encouraging you to use the number ten as inspiration while creating something positive, uplifting, motivational, kind, or comforting. Think about the people in your life who might need a little extra encouragement right now. Maybe someone is starting a new job, facing a difficult season, recovering from a setback, celebrating an achievement, feeling lonely, or simply having one of those days when a little kindness would mean a lot.

Your project doesn't have to mention mental health at all. It can be a cheerful birthday card, a supportive friendship card, a thank-you, a celebration of a milestone, a journal entry about gratitude, or a mixed-media project filled with positive words. The important thing is the feeling behind it.

Ten gives us so many possibilities: ten little reasons to smile, ten reminders that someone matters, ten beautiful details, ten encouraging words, or simply ten tiny touches that make your project special.

So this October, let's use ten as a reminder that completeness doesn't have to mean perfection. Sometimes being there for someone, offering encouragement, or sending a little handmade kindness is more than enough.

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

Bible Gateway (n.d.) Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20&version=NIV (Accessed: 8 September 2026).
Bible Gateway (n.d.) Matthew 25: The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25&version=NIV (Accessed: 8 September 2026).
BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of Numbers in the Bible: The Number 10. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/10.html (Accessed: 8 September 2026).

Huffman, C.A. (2024) ‘Pythagoras’, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edited by E.N. Zalta and U. Nodelman. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pythagoras/ (Accessed: 10 September 2026).
Huffman, C.A. (2023) ‘Pythagoreanism’, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edited by E.N. Zalta and U. Nodelman. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pythagoreanism/ (Accessed: 10 September 2026).
Islamic Relief Canada (2026) Dhul Hijjah: A Sacred Month. Available at: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/resources/islamic-calendar/dhul-hijjah (Accessed: 11 September 2026).
My Jewish Learning (n.d.) The Ten Commandments. Available at: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-ten-commandments/ (Accessed: 11 September 2026).
My Jewish Learning (n.d.) The Ten Days of Repentance. Available at: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-ten-days-of-repentance/ (Accessed: 11 September 2026).
National Sikh Organisation (2024) Sikhi: An Introduction. Available at: https://nationalsikh.org.au/sikhi-an-introduction/ (Accessed: 11 September 2026).

The Learning Lotus Project (n.d.) Ten (十): Final. Available at: https://www.thelearninglotus.com/characters/ten (Accessed: 7 September 2026).
World Health Organization (2026) World Mental Health Day 2026. Available at: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2026 (Accessed: 6 September 2026).

Unknown. (Unknown.). History and Meaning of Number 10. [Online]. SCRIBD. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/955146055/History-of-Number-10 (Accessed 7 September 2026).
World Health Organization (n.d.) World Mental Health Day. Available at: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day (Accessed: 6 September 2026).
Chat GPT was used to help me polish some elements of writing, to come up with some examples of design and to also format my references.   

To help inspire you further down the path of Crafting by the Numbers—October 10th: Celebrate World Mental Health Day, check out the wonderful project Katrina had the opportunity to create. Clicking on Katrina's name will take you to her blog where you can check out the details for her inspirational creation.

 

Thanks again to my remarkable design team! As always, Katrina  brings a distinctive creative perspective that I deeply admire. The project above captures the theme Crafting by the Numbers—October 10th: Celebrate World Mental Health Day beautifully, and I hope she has inspired you throughout this challenge to create a handmade project of your own. Be sure to visit this talented lady to see how thoughtfully her project incorporates 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 tenth month of the year, we are up to number ten in our Crafting by Numbers journey. As such, this month it is time to create a project that either focuses on the number ten or incorporates the concept of mental health somehow. 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. 

 

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

Don't Forget...

Winners for challenge #143 will be posted during the final week of October 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!

Challenge #143--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of: Crafting by the Numbers—School & Numbers: Use the numbers 7, 8, &/or 9…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 #143. 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 #143

Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of 

Crafting by the Numbers—

School and Numbers: Use the Numbers 7, 8, &/or 9 

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.

 

For September, we're bringing three numbers together: 7, 8 & 9! And with September being the month when many students head back to school, these numbers provide a wonderful opportunity to explore ideas of learning, growth, progress, and new beginnings.

Designers often look to symbolism to add meaning to their work, and seven, eight, and nine each have interesting associations across cultures, religions, and traditions. Rather than having one universal meaning, these numbers have taken on different significance depending on the culture or tradition in which they appear. Together, however, they offer some wonderful inspiration for a month focused on learning and moving forward.

Seven is one of the most widely recognized symbolic numbers and is often associated with completion, perfection, holiness, and wholeness. In Jewish tradition, the seven-day cycle is central to the observance of Shabbat, the weekly day of rest. Seven also appears throughout Jewish festivals, rituals, and the Hebrew Bible, making it a number strongly connected with sacred time, completion, and reflection.

Eight often brings ideas of renewal, progress, and new beginnings. In Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path provides a framework for spiritual development and the ending of suffering, with eight interconnected features including right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. In Chinese culture, eight is considered a particularly fortunate number because its pronunciation is associated with getting rich and good fortune. These associations make eight a wonderful number for celebrating opportunity, progress, and the excitement of starting something new.

Nine has its own intriguing connections. In ancient Greek tradition, the Nine Muses were associated with poetry, music, history, and the arts, making nine a lovely number to connect with creativity, knowledge, and inspiration. Rather than assigning one universal meaning to nine, we can look to these traditions as reminders that learning can lead to creativity, discovery, and new ideas.

Christianity also gives us particularly meaningful connections to seven and eight. The seventh day represents the completion of the first creation and the Sabbath as a day of rest. In Christian tradition, the eighth day is associated with Christ's Resurrection and the beginning of a new creation, making eight a powerful symbol of renewal and new life. The number nine also has a beautiful connection through Galatians 5:22–23, which lists nine qualities known as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities fit especially well with our own focus on positivity, encouragement, and inspiring others.

Together, seven, eight, and nine create a wonderful progression for our September theme: completion, new beginnings, and learning that leads to growth and creativity. And isn't that what going back to school is all about? We finish one chapter, begin another, and continue learning, discovering, and growing along the way.

In creative design, these numbers can be incorporated in obvious or subtle ways. You might use seven pencils, eight books, or nine stars on your project. Try adding seven school supplies, eight letters in a word, or nine little embellishments. Create a stack of eight books, arrange nine stars around a sentiment, or use seven repeated elements to create a border.

You could also let the numbers inspire the subject of your creation. Think seven apples for the teacher, eight colourful crayons, nine pencils, seven children heading to school, eight books in a stack, or nine little backpacks. Numbers can appear on a classroom clock, calendar, ruler, notebook, chalkboard, report card, or school bus. And don't forget birthdays and milestones. A card celebrating someone's 7th, 8th, or 9th birthday would fit beautifully!

For something a little more subtle, try incorporating the numbers through your layout. Use seven, eight, or nine embellishments, create a repeated pattern using one of the numbers, or divide your design into numbered sections. You could even use all three numbers together, for example, seven stars, eight gems, and nine dots. Whether your style is simple or richly detailed, there are plenty of ways to make these numbers count!

This month, incorporate one or more of these numbers into your design. Seven, eight, and nine each carry ideas of learning, growth, and progress. All concepts fitting perfectly with our back-to-school theme. From birthdays to milestones, there are countless meaningful ways to let these numbers tell a story.

Maybe your project celebrates a student starting a new grade, a teacher heading back to the classroom, a child's first day of school, academic achievement, friendship, encouragement, or simply the excitement of learning something new. And remember, your project doesn't have to be a traditional school-themed card. The numbers themselves can be the inspiration! So sharpen those pencils, open those notebooks, and let's get creative! Seven, eight, nine… it's time to learn, grow, and create!

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

Bible Gateway (n.d.) Galatians 5:22–23, New International Version. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&version=NIV (Accessed: 12 August 2026).

BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: The number 7. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html (Accessed: 12 August 2026).

 BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: The number 8. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8.html (Accessed: 12 August 2026).

 BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: The number 9. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/9.html (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Catholic Church (n.d.) Catechism of the Catholic Church: Heaven and Earth. Vatican. Available at: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_one/section_two/chapter_one/article_1/paragraph_5_heaven_and_earth.html (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Catholic Church (n.d.) Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Lord's Day. Vatican. Available at: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_two/chapter_one/article_3/ii_the_lords_day.index.html (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Dharma Realm Buddhist University (2025) What is the Noble Eightfold Path? A Brief Explanation of the Buddha’s Path of Liberation. Available at: https://www.drbu.edu/news/what-is-the-noble-eightfold-path/ (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Goodfriend, E. (2021) Seven, the Biblical Number. TheTorah.com. Available at: https://www.thetorah.com/article/seven-the-biblical-number (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Kan, Q. (2023) Chinese at the tip of your tongue: Culture behind the numbers. OpenLearn, The Open University. Available at: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/languages/chinese-the-tip-your-tongue-culture-behind-the-numbers (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Netchev, S. (2023) The Nine Muses of Greek Mythology. World History Encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18283/the-nine-muses-of-greek-mythology/ (Accessed: 12 August 2026).
Sergi. (2024). The Profound Meaning of Number 7. Inspyria. Available at: https://inspyria.com/en/retreat-culture-blog/the-profound-meaning-of-number-7 (Accessed 12 August 2026).

World Numerology (n.d.) Numerology Meaning of Number 7. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-7/ (Accessed 12 August 2026).

World Numerology (n.d.) Numerology Meaning of Number 8. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-8/ (Accessed 12 August 2026). 

World Numerology (n.d.) Numerology Meaning of Number9. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-9/ (Accessed 12 August 2026). 

Chat GPT was used to help me create some elements of the description and to also help with providing references in the Harvard style.

To help inspire you further down the path of Crafting by the Numbers—School & Numbers: Use the Numbers 7, 8, &/or 9, check out the wonderful project that Katrina had the opportunity to create. Clicking on her name will take you to her blog where you can check out the details for this inspirational creation.

 

Thanks again to my remarkable design team! As always, Katrina brings a distinctive creative perspective that I deeply admire. This design captures the theme Crafting by the Numbers—School & Numbers: Use the Numbers 7, 8, &/or 9 beautifully, and I hope Katrina has inspired you throughout this challenge to create a handmade project of your own. Be sure to visit this talented lady to see how thoughtfully her project incorporates 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? Since we are covering 3 separate numbers this month, we are up to numbers seven, eight & nine in our Crafting by Numbers journey. As such, this month it is time to share a project that incorporates one or more of these numbers into your design. 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. 

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

Don't Forget...

Winners for challenge #142 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!

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!

Challenge #141--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of: Crafting by the Numbers—5 Layer Cake: Make it Sweet &/or Use 5 Layers…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 #141. 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 #141

Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of 

Crafting by the Numbers—

5 Layer Cake: Make it Sweet and/or Use 5 Layers

 

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 five offers a rather abundant source of inspiration. Across cultures, philosophies, and spiritual traditions, five represents movement, curiosity, and change. Unlike more stable numbers, five brings energy and unpredictability, making it ideal for projects like greeting cards, prints, or surface designs.

At its core, five is linked to change, freedom, and exploration. In numerology, it sits in the middle of the single-digit numbers, representing a turning point where stability meets growth. It’s also connected to the five human senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—which connect us to the world in vital ways. Designers can use this association to create work that feels lively, sensory, and engaging. 

 

Culturally, five appears in fascinating ways. In Islamic tradition, it holds deep spiritual importance through the Five Pillars and daily prayers. In Chinese philosophy, there are five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These elements represent balance and harmony. Many traditions also place a fifth point at the centre of the four directions to symbolize connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. This shows that five often bridges structure with movement, or matter with spirit.

In Christian tradition, the number five is often associated with grace, provision, and care. Examples include the five books of the Torah (Pentateuch) and the five loaves used by Jesus to feed the 5,000, both seen as symbols of abundance and support. It also appears in the Ten Commandments, where two sets of five highlight guidance for living in harmony with God and others. Overall, five in Christianity reflects themes of balance, guidance, and sustenance, making it a meaningful symbol for design projects that suggest completeness or support.

 

Spiritually, five is seen as a symbol of personal growth and transformation. It encourages one to step out beyond routine and embrace new experiences. In other words, the ability to showcase flexibility and strength in tough situations. The five-pointed star (pentagram) has long represented balance, protection, and the human form, showing how harmony exists within change. For designers, this duality can inspire work that feels both structured and free.
 

In creative design, the number five naturally appears in layout and composition. It can appear through five-part patterns, radial designs, star shapes, or grouped elements to guide the eye and create rhythm. Unlike even-numbered arrangements, five introduces slight asymmetry, which often feels more natural and interesting. This makes it perfect for contemporary greeting cards and creative projects that aim to feel playful.

 

Using the number five in design is about embracing energy, movement, and storytelling. Through cultural, spiritual, and visual means, it can turn simple designs into something dynamic, layered, and meaningful.

This month, we’re layering on the creativity by encouraging you to use five layers or to embrace a sweet theme (or both!). For designers taking on the challenge of making a five-layered design, you can use the idea of “five” to shape both the structure and creativity. Each layer can represent something different. For ex., one layer for stability and foundation, another layer for movement, a third for balance and harmony, a fourth for meaning, and a fifth for visual impact. You can also use five shapes, colours, or patterns to help tie everything together while keeping it interesting. Using layouts like star shapes or uneven groupings of five adds energy and keeps the design engaging. This way, the layers not only look good but also guide the viewer’s eye in a clear, creative way. Don’t be afraid to add depth, texture, and a little extra fun.

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 5 in numerology. Available at: https://astratarot.net/pages/guides/meaning-of-number-5-in-numerology (Accessed: 6 April 2026).

BibleStudy.org (n.d.) Meaning of numbers in the Bible: The number 5. Available at: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/5.html (Accessed: 6 April 2026).

Decoz, H. (n.d.) Numerology meaning of 5. World Numerology. Available at: https://www.worldnumerology.com/numerology-single-digit-numbers/numerology-meaning-of-5/ (Accessed: 24 April 2026).
Encyclopaedia Britannica (n.d.) The number five. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/the-number-five (Accessed: 6 April 2026).
Symbolostic (2025) Number 5 symbolism: spiritual meaning, life lessons & numerology. Available at: https://symbolostic.com/number-5-symbolism/ (Accessed: 6 April 2026).
The Coolist (2023) Numerology 5 meaning: flexibility and resilience. Available at: https://www.thecoolist.com/mystic/numerology/5-meaning/ (Accessed: 6 April 2026).

 

Chat GPT was used to help me polish some elements of writing, to come up with some examples of what each layer can represent and to also format my references.  

 

To help inspire you further down the path of Crafting by the Numbers—5 Layer Cake: Make it Sweet &/or Use 5 Layers, 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—5 Layer Cake: Make it Sweet &/or Use 5 Layers 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 fifth month of the year, we are up to number five in our Crafting by Numbers journey. As such, this month it is time to create a project with five layers or to incorporate a sweet theme. 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 #140 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!