Turn the Star quilt into a tree skirt or wreath

LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.

Through hundreds of eye-popping reproductions, All Wrapped Up! celebrates gift wrapthat most ephemeral of paper productsfrom the groovy 1960s. The modest palette and conventional patterns of the previous decade eventually yielded to the riotous colors, op art, and psychedelic visions that defined the late '60s, charting a course through the entire spectrum of mid-century graphic design and commercial illustration. Popular imagery of cute animals, adorable children, barbecue iconography for dad, funky florals, and Santas of every stripe grace these pages. A thoughfully wrapped present is a gift in itself, and All Wrapped Up! is the perfect package to celebrate the popular designs of the most visually exuberant decade of all.

It wouldn't be Christmas without the "things." How they came to mean so much, and to play such a prominent role in America's central holiday, is the tale told in this delightful and edifying book. In a style characteristically engaging and erudite, Karal Ann Marling, one of our most trenchant observers of American culture, describes the outsize spectacle that Christmas has become.

This dazzling collection of recipes, style advice, and decorating ideas will help every family bring grace and passion to the holiday season.

Presentation isn’t everything, but it’s a lot--which is why creative gift wrapping is so popular. With more than 40 projects, this guide has something for every style, sentiment, and gift. The materials range from purchased and handmade papers to patterned fabric and ribbon, and an introductory section covers all the wrapping basics. Make your own boxes, embellish gift bags, personalize gift cards and tags, and create signature wraps using stamping, painting, or combinations of natural materials.