We love the look of old-fashioned Christmas packages and wrappings. Recreating a vintage look this holiday season is easy with papers, tags and tapes made by Italian paper maker, Cavallini. With gorgeous reproduction vintage artwork, these heavy-weight Italian-made holiday wraps are sure to give your gifts a very special look that’s sure to make them

In the early ’40s, retired industrialist Louis J. Koch conceived a retirement community in Indiana. During his travels, he visited Santa Claus, Indiana, only to be heartbroken for countless children. Families would travel to the town and children would be horribly disappointed to find that Santa Claus wasn’t even there. So, Koch opted instead to

It’s that time of year. Time to dim the lights, sip cocoa, wrap the rest of the presents, and listen to that oh-so-inspiring Christmas music. When I was a kid, Christmas songs were played ’round the clock on the radio, and on the turntable in the living room. Elvis, Bing Crosby, and Eddy Arnold, to

I’ve collected several things in my life, some to a greater extent than others. Stamps? Not so much. Coins? For a brief time—starting with that fold-out penny holder, remember those starter kits? Baseball cards, until I reached the age of twelve or so and realized spending 50-cents a week on a seven card pack with a wretched stick of

Kitsch. It’s been around (officially, at least), since the 1800s.  And, while most people couldn’t define it even if they were on JEOPARDY!, you all know it when you see it. The hula girl on your buddy’s dashboard. The Kit-Cat Klock with the swinging tail and shifting eyeballs in your grandma’s kitchen. The screaming-yellow corded phone with the

Eggs. Sure, they’re a food staple and a fave for many worldwide. Me? I’m not one of those people. For yours truly, when it comes to eggs, they’d better be cooked into brownies or a cake, because that’s about the extent of my yolking around. That said, however, I recall a Christmas gathering my parents threw, circa 1975 or

Our stomachs are totally craving these tasty treats featured at Hungry Happenings. They made Christmas lights out of M&M’s and Mike and Ikes. Retro candy = retro lights! We’re thinking shoestring licorice to create an entirely edible piece. Be sure to see how they did it.

This ad from the early ’50s features Woolworth’s Gumdrop Goody Tree. The plastic tree was available in two sizes: 13″ and 7″, and was marketed not just for Christmas, but also birthdays and other holidays. Did you have one of these unique trees?

The exact history of the snow globe is unclear, but it appears this popular treasure was first introduced in Paris in 1878. The following year a handful of companies produced snow globes that sold in Europe. In the early 1920s these collectibles hit the US and became immensely popular. You can make your own snow

Since they work behind-the-scenes all year, we asked the Retro Planet staff to go through the online catalog and share what they want (or want to give) this Christmas. Writer Rebecca is cross between a comic book geek and retro enthusiast. Here’s what she’s begging Santa for this year. Green Retro Wall Clock When I