Abstract: An embossing die includes a plate and at least one embossing element protruding from a surface thereof. The embossing die may also include at least one cutting edge protruding from the surface of the plate. An embossing system that includes the embossing die may also include a press. The press may be manually operated and may be hand-held or supported upon a flat surface, such as a tabletop. A first member of the press receives the embossing die, while a second member of the press provides support for a sheet of material into or from which the embossing die will form a pattern upon biasing the die against the sheet of material. Manually operated presses and die embossing methods that employ teachings of the invention are also disclosed.