Lots of last minute ideas for decorations and gifts in this week's set of Make it Merry Contributions . Try your hand at any of these for last minute ideas that still look great!

Victorian Snow Day
Put together a mixed media portrait using crafting scraps and this tutorial from Margot Potter.

Cookies in a Jar
Fun article with recipes and gift tags for making cookies in a jar.

Christmas Crackers
Make your own Christmas crackers this year (don't forget to add your favorite terrible joke for an authentic touch)!

Striped Stocking
A stocking knit in tow colors on large needles is a quick and easy way to hold gifts for the holiday. Use traditional Christmas colors or make one with stripes of the colors of your favorite sports team.

Crocheted Wire Necklace
If you can string stone nuggets onto wire, and if you can crochet a simple chain stitch, then you can make this pretty necklace. Visit Beading Arts for the instructions!

Stained Glass Votives
Here's a great easy project that's perfect for kids and fun for adults! We spend lots of time making great votive candles, why not dress them up even more with hand made votive holders?

Skating Penguin Cartoon
Add a cute penguin to your holiday cards with this step-by-step drawing tutorial from Helen South.

Lampwork Snowman Earrings
Use a few wire techniques to turn two lampwork snowmen beads into some holiday jewelry. These literally take minutes to make.

Greeting Card Album
Recycle a greeting card and create a holiday album using materials you already have around the house.

Cut Paper Trees
These three dimensional stand up cut paper trees can be used for table decorations or winter scenes. They're cut just like snowflakes from regular paper.

Christmas Tree Seed Bead Earrings
If you're in a pinch for some holiday cheer upon your ears, then these simple seed bead earrings are just the holiday miracle you've been looking for. With just a little wire and a handful of beads, these can be made in just minutes.

Gingerbread Ornaments
When you don't have the fragrance of a real Christmas tree, fake scents just don't do it. Make a batch of these ornaments every few years and hang them from your tree, the scent will last for two or three years!

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Mahogany miniatures are quite stunning, but often very pricey. This Faux Mahogany Finish is a simple way to turn unfinished softwood or painted pieces into very realistic mahogany using acrylic paints and glazes. The photo shows a piece of real mahogany behind a piece finished with the faux technique to show how close a match you can achieve.

You can use the technique to match the often overly red finish of commercial pieces, or create even more realistic looking mahogany from unfinished or painted pieces.This technique works just as well on full scale furniture or painted objects as it does in miniature. I'm eyeing the floorboards in my workshop in a whole new light!

Photo copyright 2009 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Need an inexpensive fireplace for your dolls house? This traditional fireplace can be bashed from an inexpensive craft store dollhouse hutch, or easily made from scratch in a size and scale you choose. The simple construction method allows you to build it from illustration board or bookboard if you have scraps of that handy as well.

If you need Christmas stockings or lashing of Christmas foods to add to your scene, I suggest you wander over to check out the Association of Miniature Artisans wonderful Advent Calendar for Miniatures. Click on a numbered door (no peeking ahead allowed!) to find instructions for tiny toys, gloves, Christmas mice or other miniatures. There are lots more Christmas projects in AIM's Free December online magazine as well.

Photo copyright 2009 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

If you paint any type of scale model or miniature, you should practise your dry brushing techniques. The fine lines and dots you can create will help you create faux finishes for dollhouse miniatures, or add dirt or shadows to military figures or railroad cars. It's an easy technique, and one miniaturists use all the time. I'm going to be using it to explain a method of creating faux mahogany finishes in the next few days.

Other Wood Finishing Techniques Worth Learning:

• Classic Painted Wood Finishes
• How to Age or Weather New Wood