It's easy to make sturdy stone walls and buildings from foam. These techniques can make a number of pieces for a miniature nativity or Christmas village scene but they are a staple for dollhouse garden scenes, railroad scenery and gaming terrains as well.

They don't take long to make and you can choose a variety of materials and coatings to make them more durable. You can use the same techniques to create stonework on a wooden dollhouse or lighthouse. If you use a coating of grout, they may stand up to temporary use outdoors as well.

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

Pumpkin Cross Stitch Pattern
Use a variegated floss to make a swirling pumpkin that would look great near the Thanksgiving table. Connie G. Barwick has the free pattern.

Knit Wreath Ornament
Scrap knitting makes for fun quick projects that are perfect for any skill level. Sarah E. White has the instructions for this cute wreath.

Miniature Glitter Houses
Snowy villages look great upon every mantle and tabletop. Lesley Shepherd has a free printable so you can make your own tiny houses.

Paper Bead Star Ornament
If you're looking for something a little different to do with your paper beads then take a look at this paper bead star. This project is simple to adapt in a wide variety of ways.

Rustic Pillar Candles
'Tis the season for running out to buy candles. David Fisher will show you how to make these festive pillar candles with the perfect finish.

Pear Diamonds Painted Card
This card has an intricate finish, but it is so easy to make. Tina Jones shows us how to create this colorful card from start to finish.

Christmas Apron Pattern
Just because you've got to bake cookies for the whole family doesn't mean you can't look fabulous! Phyllis Dobbs has created this adorable holiday apron, and she's got the free pattern just for you.

Flower Petal Ornament Cover
Sometimes those plain ornaments just need a little dressing up. Tammy Powley will show you how to use seed beads to create this unique ornament drapery.

Paint a Christmas Tree
Instead of paying a premium for a colored tree, Barbara Crews will show us how to paint your tree red to match the latest holiday trends.

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.

If you aren't an artist you may never have used gesso to coat surfaces for miniatures and models. Most modellers seem more likely to search a hardware store for materials than check out the art supplies. More than just a surface for paint, gesso has a long history of use for fine detail on elaborate frames or wood furniture. It can be cast into shapes in silicone molds and used for raised plaster effects in dolls houses, or to similate carving on tiny pieces of furniture. It also makes rough brick or stone textures for gaming and railroad terrains. This is an easy to find basic material with a lot of uses! Instead of using spackle or drywall filler for texture, use gesso to create a hard, ready to paint surface that can be tinted, sanded, or have acrylic (or pva glue) added to it to make it stronger or glossier.

About.com is looking for a contributing writer for the topic of model horses, which would be included on the miniatures site. You can find more information on the Be an About.com Contributing Writer page under the topic Model Horses. I'm looking forward to a great working relationship with a new writer on this site, so please apply if scale horses are your passion!