We're Having a Heat Wave ...

... and I've been making a Christmas Card.

I must be mad!

But not that mad ... I waited until the sun was down and it was cooler before venturing into the craft room. And why this desperate need to make a Christmas card, now in July, on what might prove to be the hottest day of the year? Well, I just did not want to miss Hazel's challenge, over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge, again this week. I was off gallivanting last week and somehow never managed to make it then. This week, CHNC 133, the requirement is for a trees - at least one, which is all I've been able to come up with.

I chose to use the cut down front of a card received last year - the tree shape was already die-cut in the red card which was handy. The base is another of those fancy edged card bases that's been tucked away in a drawer all but forgotten for a year or so. They are nice, I just forget I have them!

Before the topper was attached to the card, I cut a scrap of smooth white cardstock to size and embossed it with my very new and lovely Lattice embossing folder to create an insert for the tree.

By Crafts-Too, this is the folder that is proving to be a very acceptable substitute for the much sought after, but now rarer than hen's teeth, Tied Together EF by Couture Creations. I have to thank Pixie Di, she who keeps order in the Crafty Snippets Playground, for letting us know that this little beauty was available at MaddyLisa Crafts  - check out her post here for more info.

A snippet of green card was placed behind the 'pot' the tree is 'standing' in. The finishing touches were tiny green and, even tinier, red gems, from Anita's gem wheels, for the tree, pearl stars in the corners and a pearl bow on the pot.

There is a 'Christmas Wishes' greeting inside - unfortunately, this proved difficult to photograph.

As well as submitting this to CHNC 133, I'd also like to submit it to Hazel's monthly challenge - Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for July - where, as always, anything goes.

And as I was able to incorporate a couple of snippets, the white card for the embossed insert for the tree and the green card for the 'pot', I'll be popping over to Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 81. A little birdie told me that Miss Di is needing a helping hand in the playground ... something about there being anarchy in the tree house!!!

Right, I'd better hurry to finish ... there's a moth threatening my life here ... absolutely hate the way they flutter around ... gotta go!

Take care and happy crafting,