Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating the holiday. Here's another edition of Make it Merry, where talented artists and crafters share their holiday how-to's.

Snowman Ornament
Sherri Osborn will show you how to create a cute snowman face using a clear, glass ornament. It's a great project for the whole family.
Recycled Pine Cone Gnome
Collect some fallen pine cones and create this pine cone gnome at the Recycled Crafts blog.
CopprClay Pendants
Try your hand with pendant making this year with a little help from some winter foliage. The Beading Arts blog will show you how.
How to Make Paper
Make handmade paper for the scrapbooker in your life, or create tags and cards for every present on your list. Marion Boddy-Evans shows us how.
Little Town of Bethlehem Cross Stitch
For a traditional Christmas, a simple cross stitch pattern from Connie G. Barwick.
Mitten Earrings
Tammy Powley shows us how to make these cute mitten earrings using lampwork beads.
Christmas Stocking
Worked with bulky yarn on big needles, even beginner knitters can have this two-color sock finished and ready to embellish in no time.
Advent Garland
Count down to the holidays with this pyramid box garland. Use the free template to make the boxes and decorate them with your favorite festive stamps.
Miniature Gift Boxes
Have a tiny gift to give? Check out these free printable miniature gift boxes for small gifts or advent calendars from Lesley Shepherd.
Manga Holiday Card
Give your Christmas greetings a contemporary flavour with this greeting card from guest artist Shinaebi at About Drawing/Sketching.
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.

Draw this gorgeous wolf - or werewolf - in graphite pencil. This wolf drawing tutorial was created for us by Michael Hames, whose experience as an artist and teacher is evident in the clear structure and beautiful textures that he develops in this drawing. Michael is a Canadian artist whose work is widely published and exhibited - and rightly so, with a combination of technical excellence and aesthetic sensitivity. So I'm really excited to be able to bring you this tutorial. Draw a Wolf.

I used to covet a Kolinsky Sable brush. Not just a little one - a big, fat lovely one to do huge washes with. But I've realized that using fur is neither compassionate nor ethical. Facing up to the reality of fur means that a Kolinsky sable brush will never find a place in my studio. Fortunately, synthetic alternatives are excellent - my preferred brushes are Taklon, and especially the Robert Wade white Taklon brushes available here in Australia. Comparable brushes in the USA would be Robert Simmons 'White Sable'. I find that the Taklon brush holds its point well, and holds enough water to wash well without flooding. And there's no animal cruelty involved.

The 'best' Kolinsky Sable is made from winter coat of the Siberian Weasel, though fur from its cousins, the Himalayan or Yellow weasels or Martens, is also used. Farming methods are not humane, and the animals are protected in some areas so there's a thriving trade in illegal pelts.

More on Fur:
The Cruelty of Fur Farms
Peta Exposes Cruelty (caution, distressing video)
Fur Isn't Green (discussion in comments)

Image: Part of a haul of 85 wild weasel skins confiscated by Beijing forest police. (© Getty Images) Top: a Siberian Weasel in Dresden Zoo (Wikimedia).

We often think of charcoal as a medium for quick sketches or large figure drawings. But you can use it for detailed work too. Studies like this animal skull by Alberoni show the depth that can be achieved. Charcoal pencils are ideal for doing the detail in drawings like this, or you can use a stick, 'sharpened' on a piece of sandpaper or rough cardboard. Charcoal can be difficult to erase, so be careful to preserve highlights. Beginners sometimes make the mistake of making dark areas too flat, and can seem oddly featureless, as though part of the drawing is missing. Unless you've got a microscopic black hole in there absorbing all the light, you can still have some subtle modeling of form.

Charcoal Drawing Articles:
Charcoal Drawing FAQ
Charcoal Exercise - Soft Volume
How to Apply Spray Fixative
Charcoal for Drawing - Top Picks

Photo: Skull (c) Alberoni, licensed to About.com, Inc.