Best gift paper holds up to curious shakes and deters sneaky unwrappers

It's all about the wrap, especially during the holidays, when gifts have a longer shelf life than, say, birthday presents.

Holiday gifts get to be admired under a Christmas tree or hanging out near the menorah.

For those super-prepared -- bordering on obsessive -- gifts can sit as long as a month fully wrapped and taunting the recipient.

Good gift paper will hold up to curious shakes and deter sneaky unwrappers. And beautifully covered presents can act as swell holiday decoration.

Red and green wrapping paper is OK. But with so much selection, why limit yourself? (Yes, a lot of Hanukah paper is still relegated to ho-hum patterns.)

There are vintage prints and paper that looks like Christmas sweaters and air fresheners. Polka dots and fuzzy snowflakes. Knock Knock has some of the best wacky/creative holiday wrap: a Christmas bar code, "Jingle Bells" sound waves, pine needles and a computer-encrypted version of "The Night Before Christmas."

"I love wrapping paper," says Knock Knock owner Jen Bilik. "I take longer to wrap presents than I do to purchase them."

Web resources: knockknock.biz, iomoi.com, rockscissorpaper.com