(1) Install Skype v2.1.081 Beta either via Terminal (sudo apt-get install skype) or via Software Manager
(2) Install Video4Linux Control Panel (v4l2ucp) either via Terminal (sudo apt-get install v4l2ucp) or via Software Manager
(3) Run "v4l2ucp" from a Terminal (sudo v4l2ucp)
(4) From the top bar, select 'preview'.
(5) Select 'configure preview'.
(6) In the 'application to use line' replace mplayer with Skype.
(7) Click 'OK" and close the sub-menu.
(8) In the preview menu, select "start preview"
(9) This will start your Skype program. Sign in with your Username and Password and you are ready to go with Video Calls (just to make sure everything works, test your video - from Skype menu go to Options and Video Devices)
Just so you won't have to start the Video4Linux Control Panel via Terminal console command line (sudo v4l2ucp) everytime you can set a Desktop shortcut to it.
Depending on what version of Linux Mint you have installed you will find the Video4Linux Control Panel in one of these two locations:
Filesystem/usr/share/applications or Filesystem/usr/share/app-install/desktop
Just right click on the Video4Linux Control Panel icon and choose Copy to/Desktop and you will get the icon on your desktop for faster and easier access.
Downsize to this workaround: You will have to run Video4Linux Control Panel every time you wanna use Skype.
This worked for me with the following webcam:
SiGma Micro Micro USB Web Camera - a cheap webcam I got for $3.50 from e-Bay - (China stuff from Hong-Kong)
I was able to get this 2 bits webcam to work on both my desktop and my laptop with the following install:
LinuxMint release 9 (Isadora)
Kernel Linux 2.6.32-21-generic
GNOME 2.30.2
Desktop: HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n, Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz
3GB DDR2 RAM, nVidia GE Force 9500GT 1,024MB DDR2 GPU
Laptop: HP Pavilion dv8301nr Entertainment Notebook PC, AMD Turion(TM) 64 Mobile Processor ML-34 (1.8GHz, 1 MB L2 Cache, up to 1,60MHz system bus)
2GB DDR RAM, 256MB Video Memory (128MB DDR dedicated + 128MB shared) ATI RADEON® XPRESS 200M IGP
Good luck and let everybody know if this worked for you by posting here.

P.S. - When you post please include your system specs and exact type of webcam you have, just like I did above.
To get your webcam type just open a terminal and type "sudo lsusb" (with the webcam already connected to your PC or Laptop)