All sorts of fun crafty activities going on in the crafty blogosphere this week:

• The Crochet Dude
  Drew kicks off the holiday season with a crochet pattern event.
• About Family Crafts
  Do you play with clay? If so, please take a moment and share your favorite stories, projects, recipes, techniques, and more.
• The Impatient Crafter
  In this week's teen crafts blog for iLoveToCreate Madge makes a stunning mixed media necklace. You might just want to sport this one yourself.
• Aileen's Musings
  Aileen is offering Vintage freebie images for you to download and use in your art. Get started on those digi holiday cards using some of them.
• The Artful Crafter
  Check out Eileen's latest craft finds: lots of free stuff and free advice - well that's usually free, isn't it?
• Cathie Filian
  Cathie has lots of Thanksgiving recipes, crafts and family activities posted. Plus tips for a smooth Thanksgiving!
• Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
  Sweater Surgery attacks t-shirts and cuts them up into some cute gathered tops with the help of Generation-T Beyond Fashion.
• Mixed Media Artist
  Cyndi has finished a second Garden Quilt and is offering her tutorial!
• Craftside
  Over at Craftside you can enter to win a Mixed-Media Doll by Linda O'Brien, Co-author of Who's Your Dada?, download a free intricate leaf paper cutting pattern, get a fun how-to on making a paper cupcake and a pretty pair of fall leaf earrings.
• Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
  Linda shares one of the first quilts she designed and tells the first of many stories about lessons learned.
• Crafty Princess Diaries
  Mix up altered books, glitter, and teenagers, shake well, and voila! You have a fun day of art combined with writing.

Don't forget that November 21, 2009 is our first Stitchathon in the About.com Cross Stitch Forum. Some stitchers have big plans for tomorrow - I know a few are set up to have a Lord of the Rings Marathon at the same time. Even if you can't stitch all day, drop in for a bit.

Don't miss the excitement! But, if you can't stitch with us on Nov. 21, remember that we are having Tuesday Night Stitchalongs too. So many stitchers are making so much progress on former UFOs that is it amazing!

Find out more about both of these opportunities as you Come Stitch With Us!

Welcome to another edition of Make it Merry, where talented crafters share their holiday how-to's.

Advent Candy Tree
Everyone loves counting down to the holidays...add candy to the mix and you've got a fun Advent calendar from Sherri Osborn for the whole family to enjoy.

Pumpkin Cross Stitch Pattern
Use a variegated floss to make a swirling pumpkin that would look great near the Thanksgiving table. Connie G. Barwick (hey, that's me!) 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.

Carrol Nielsen of Carrol Nielsen's Christmas Designs says that, "It seems like I have had a needle and thread in hand since a very young age and I often joke that my family wouldn't recognize me without it." Carrol hails from the "Land Down Under" and it has a definite influence on her stitching as you can see here!

Carrol's designs are dominated by Koalas. Koalas for Christmas, baby samplers, and they just keep popping up everywhere. Carrol says, "When I was a kid I just couldn't draw a koala. My grandmother was in love with koalas and I have her in several photos having a koala cuddle on her visits to Australia...." Learn more about Carrol Nielsen's Christmas Cross Stitch Designs.