Three-Dimensional Collectible Greeting Card

Abstract

The present general inventive concept provides a collectible greeting card comprising a three-dimensional enclosure containing thematically consistent components. The exterior of the three-dimensional enclosure is decorated with words, images, or both that are thematically consistent with a toy animal included inside the enclosure. A location for a thematically consistent message is also provided in the interior of the three-dimensional enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A three-dimensional, collectible greeting card comprising:
 an enclosable housing, said housing having at least one closeable opening, said housing having an exterior design;   a toy animal inside said housing; and   a location for a message inside said housing;   whereby said toy animal and said exterior design of said housing are thematically consistent with one another.   
     
     
         2 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 1 , further comprising an animal-associated insert inside said housing; whereby said animal-associated insert is also thematically consistent with said toy animal and said exterior design. 
     
     
         3 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 1 , further comprising a message that is thematically consistent with said toy animal and said exterior design included at said location for a message. 
     
     
         4 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 1 , further comprising a list of thematically consistent messages, relative to said toy animal and said exterior design. 
     
     
         5 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 4 , wherein said list includes thematically consistent, removable messages that can be removed from said list and placed on said location for a message inside said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 3 , wherein said selected message is placed on the inside cover of said closeable opening of said three-dimensional housing. 
     
     
         7 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 3 , wherein said selected message is written on the toy animal. 
     
     
         8 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein the toy animal is comprised of an elastomeric polymer biased to return to its original shape after being squeezed or flexed. 
     
     
         9 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosable housing includes a transparent window. 
     
     
         10 . A three-dimensional, collectible greeting card comprising:
 a three-dimensional, enclosable housing, said housing including an interior cavity, said housing having at least one closeable opening,   a toy animal inside said housing;   an animal-associated insert inside said housing that is thematically consistent with said toy animal;   an exterior design on said housing that is thematically consistent with the selected toy animal and associated insert included inside said housing;   a location for a message in the interior of said housing; and   a list of thematically consistent messages, relative to said toy animal inside said housing, said animal-associated insert, and said exterior design of said housing;   whereby a user can select a specific, thematically consistent message from said list and place it on said location for a message inside said housing.   
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 10 , further comprising a thematically consistent message, relative to said toy animal, said animal-associated insert, and said exterior design, included at said location for a message. 
     
     
         12 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 10 , wherein said list of thematically consistent messages is included inside said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein said selected message is placed on the inside cover of said closeable opening of said enclosable housing. 
     
     
         14 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein said selected message is written on the toy animal. 
     
     
         15 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 10 , wherein the toy animal is comprised of an elastomeric polymer biased to return to its original shape after being squeezed or flexed. 
     
     
         16 . The three-dimensional, collectible greeting card of  claim 10 , wherein said three-dimensional, enclosable housing includes a transparent window. 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a three-dimensional, collectible greeting card comprising:
 forming a three-dimensional, enclosable housing;   providing at least one closeable opening in said enclosable housing;   selecting a toy animal and placing it inside said three-dimensional, enclosable housing; and   decorating the exterior of said three-dimensional, enclosable housing so as to be thematically consistent with said selected toy animal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 selecting an animal-associated insert and placing it inside said three-dimensional housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a list of thematically consistent messages, relative to said toy animal and said exterior design.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the toy animal is comprised of an elastomeric polymer biased to return to its original shape after being squeezed or flexed.