Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an embossing template for embossing design onto a sheet media using an embossing tool. The template maintains an embossing plate, with at least one embossing opening. A tool guide is provided, coupled to the embossing plate. The tool guide has at least one tool guide opening thereon. The tool guide opening corresponds to the embossing opening, such that when the sheet media is inserted between the embossing plate and the tool guide, the embossing tool is moved around the edges of the tool guide opening, pressing the sheet media against the edges of the embossing opening, embossing a design into the sheet media.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,911, filed on May 5, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to an embossing template. More specifically, this invention relates to an embossing template for manually embossing sheet media.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention relates to the use of a guide tool to emboss sheet media. In arts such as paper crafting, scrapbooking, and rubberstamping it is often desirable to emboss decorative designs onto a sheet medium such as paper or card stock. These designs may be used in combination or coordination with other paper crafting effects such as holes or slits produced by various paper punches such as those commonly known as craft punches, corner punches, corner rounders and photo mounting punches, or with the addition of color or other effects to the embossed designs.  
           [0004]    Typically, paper embossing has been done by hobbyists and artists by utilizing a template with openings disposed therein, said openings corresponding to the design that is to be embossed, a light box, and an embossing tool such as the type commonly known as a “ball-tip stylus.” The template is placed upon the lighted surface of the light box and a sheet medium such as paper or light card stock is placed over the template. A non-permanent adhesive means such as removable tape may be used to hold the template in position relative to the paper during the embossing process. The embossing tool is used to press down on the top surface of the sheet medium, forcing it into the openings in the template. The openings are visible through the sheet medium due to light from the light box radiating through the openings in the template and through the sheet medium. The pressure from the tip of the embossing tool causes the sheet medium to be permanently displaced from the nominal plane of the sheet medium, forming the embossed design. This allows embossing of highly intricate designs, however it does requires the use of a light box, which may not be available, convenient, or possible to use in certain environments or situations, such as when traveling. The light box has been required for the user to see the locations of the openings in the template in order to position and move the embossing tool correctly. Also, it is not practical to use a light box for sheet media that is too opaque for the light to penetrate.  
           [0005]    The prior art does not provide a satisfactory means for accurately aligning the design to be embossed relative to corners, edges or other features of the sheet medium. Thus, the template must be placed by estimating the desired location of the embossed image, or measuring and placing alignment marks on the surface of the sheet medium. This is tedious, prone to inaccuracies, and, if marks are used, they normally must be erased or otherwise removed before the completion of the project.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,472 to Taylor attempts to eliminate the need for a light box by teaching a template comprising two identical sheets hingedly connected along one peripheral edge and between which the sheet medium to be embossed is inserted. The openings in the top sheet of the template are identical to and aligned with the openings in the bottom, and are used as a guide to position and move the embossing tool relative to the openings in the bottom.  
           [0007]    The problem with this approach is that the embossing tool does not properly follow fine details of the openings in the lower sheet because it is aligned to the edges of the openings in the upper sheet and is held away from the edges of the openings in the lower sheet by the curvature of the ball-tip. Because the edge of the ball-tip follows the upper guide, it does not firmly press the sheet medium against the lower guide, resulting in a soft edge rather than the desirable sharp edge that is characteristic of embossed designs. Also, the details of the design can be no smaller than the diameter of the ball-tip. This precludes this solution from being useable for all but very simple designs.  
           [0008]    Fiskars Brands, Inc. markets a device (Patent Pending in the United States) that partially overcomes one of the shortcomings of &#39;472 patent in that it uses a slightly larger opening for the top guide than for the bottom embossing opening; however, the top openings are a fixed dimension larger than the bottom ones and do not compensate for the need for the top guide edge to go farther from the bottom edge to accommodate certain fine detail. The Fiskars device uses a large, expensive base to hold the upper and lower guide and embossing elements and to provide the work surface upon which the embossing is performed. Also, it is difficult to accurately align the sheet medium to the designs to be embossed because no positive alignment means are provided for the sheet media.  
           [0009]    It is the intent of the current invention to overcome these shortcomings of the prior art and to provide other substantial advantages to the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention is an embossing template for producing decorative embossed shapes or designs on a planar sheet medium such as paper, cardstock, and the like, using an embossing tool, typically of the type known as a ball-tip stylus. The template comprises a lower embossing plate member and an upper tool guide member, fixed in relationship to each other at one or more points such that the medium to be embossed is disposed between them. The embossing tool is used to press the sheet medium into openings disposed in the embossing plate, with the openings corresponding to the design to be embossed into the sheet medium. The pressure of the embossing tool permanently displaces the sheet medium, along the edges of the openings in the embossing plate, from the nominal plane of the sheet medium, producing the embossed design.  
           [0011]    Openings are disposed in the tool guide of particular shapes and in relationships to the openings in the embossing plate such that the embossing tool, when inserted into the openings in the tool guide, is properly positioned and guided to accurately emboss the design of the opening in the embossing plate into the sheet medium. The openings in the tool guide are larger than the corresponding openings in the embossing plate, with the edges of the tool guide openings offset from the edges of the corresponding openings in the embossing plate by distances that vary depending on the size of the immediate area of the embossing plate opening relative to the size of the tip of the embossing tool. Said embossing plate and tool guide are bonded at appropriate points to hold them in correct juxtaposition.  
           [0012]    An edge guide or guides comprising one or more openings or slits in the tool guide provide a positive alignment means to assist in accurately positioning the embossing template relative to the corner, edge, or other feature of the sheet medium.  
           [0013]    The present invention allows for a plurality of sets of openings, used serially by repositioning the template on the sheet medium, to permit complex embossed designs that cannot be created using an embossing template with a single set of openings.  
           [0014]    The present invention can be used as a stencil to permit the user to add colors or other special effects to the sheet medium either in combination with the embossing or without the embossing.  
           [0015]    The present invention can accommodate designs that may be used in combination and coordination with various decorative and functional paper punches, including those commonly known as craft punches, corner punches, corner rounders, and photo mounting punches.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of sheet medium embossed with designs from a corner design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a corner design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a corner design template, tool guide, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a corner design template, embossing plate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a corner design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a corner design template, showing sheet medium disposed therein and use of embossing tool, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an edge guide in detail, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an edge guide in detail with sheet medium disposed therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing embossing tool and tool guide offset relative to a large opening in embossing plate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing embossing tool and tool guide offset relative to a small opening in embossing plate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an embossed sheet medium with corner and edge design embossed thereon, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, tool guide, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, embossing plate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, with sheet medium disposed therein for embossing a corner design, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, showing template positions to emboss each of the four corners, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, with sheet medium disposed therein for embossing an edge design, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 18 is a plan view of a corner and edge design template, showing multiple template positions to emboss edge design, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 19, is a partial plan view of an embossed sheet medium with complex embossed design requiring a template with three sets of embossing openings, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 20 is a plan view of a multiple design template with three sets of embossing openings, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 21 illustrates a multiple design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 22 is a partial plan view of a sheet medium showing photo mounting punches and photo, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 23 is a partial plan view of a sheet medium showing photo mounting punches, embossed design, and photo, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 24 is a plan view of a photo mount design template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 25 is a plan view of a sheet medium and positions of photo mount design template to emboss each of the four corners, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a folded notecard sheet medium showing photo mounting punches, embossed design, and photo, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 27 is a plan view of a folded notecard photo mount design embossing template, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 28 is a plan view of a folded notecard photo mount design embossing template in position on sheet medium to emboss each of the four punch locations, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 29 is a flow chart of corner design embossing process, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 30 is a flow chart of combination corner and edge design embossing process, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 31 is a flow chart of a multiple design embossing process, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 32 is a flow chart of embossing process in combination with photo mount punches, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 33 is a flow chart of embossing process in combination with photo mount punches on a folded notecard, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0050]    One embodiment of the current invention, intended for embossing designs  51  in the corners of sheet media  50  as illustrated in FIG. 1, is shown in FIGS. 2 through 6. The embossing template  10  comprises an embossing plate  20  with embossing openings  21  corresponding to the designs  51  to be embossed in the sheet medium  50 , and a tool guide  30  with tool guide openings  31  corresponding to each embossing opening  21  in the embossing plate  20 .  
         [0051]    The embossing plate  20  and tool guide  30  may be fabricated from any thin durable material such as sheet plastic or metal and the fabrication method may be any that is capable of producing the amount of detail required for the embossed design. This may include die cutting, laser cutting, engraving, etching, injection molding, or any other method suitable to the materials and design.  
         [0052]    The tool guide  30  is attached to the embossing plate  20  by permanently bonding them at bonding area  40 . The bonding may be by any means, such as mechanical, chemical, or thermal, suitable to the materials. The bonding area pattern, size, and location may vary from one template design to another depending on the configuration of the templates. The bonding must secure tool guide  20  in correct juxtaposition relative to embossing plate  30  and must maintain the tool guide in close contact to the embossing plate in the area of edge guides  33  and  34  so as to provide an edge to which the edge of sheet medium  50  can be positively aligned.  
         [0053]    Referring now to FIG. 6, sheet medium  50  to be embossed is inserted between embossing plate  20  and tool guide  30  at insertion point  36 . Depending on the design of template  10 , various insertion point designs may be used to facilitate the action of inserting sheet media  50  between the two pieces of the template  10 . Sheet medium  50  is inserted until the edges adjacent to the corner of sheet medium  50  contact and align with first and second edge guides,  33  and  34 .  
         [0054]    Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, edge guides  33  and  34  are formed as one or more slits  33  in tool guide  30  forming an outer area  30   a , which is bonded to embossing plate  20 , and an inner area  30   b , which is not bonded to embossing plate  20 . When the sheet medium is inserted, it raises inner area  30   b  of tool guide  30 , permitting sheet medium  50  to contact the edge of slit  33  at outer area  30   a , which acts as a positive stop for the edge of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0055]    Referring again to FIG. 6, edge alignment openings  35   a ,  35   b , and  35   c , permit the user to visually verify that sheet medium  50  has been full inserted into the template and is flush with both edge guides  33  and  34 . The tip  62  of an embossing tool  60 , such as the type commonly known as a ball-tip stylus, is inserted into tool guide opening  31 . The user applies downward pressure, forcing tip  62  of tool  60  to press sheet medium  50  into the opening in embossing plate  30 . Tip  62  of embossing tool  60  is moved around the inner edge of opening  31 , following tool path  61 , while maintaining downward pressure, forcing sheet medium  50  into embossing plate opening  31 , and permanently forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50  in the shape of the embossing plate opening  31 .  
         [0056]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the edges of the tool guide openings  31  are offset from the edges of the embossing openings  21  by the distance of a tool guide opening offset  32 , to compensate for the curvature of tip  62  of embossing tool  60 . As shown in FIG. 9, if the size of opening  21  in the embossing plate  20  is larger than the diameter of tip  62  of embossing tool  60 , tip  62  of embossing tool  60  will force sheet medium  50  against working surface  70  upon which embossing template  10  is supported. In this case embossing offset  32  must be relatively small in order to properly position and guide tool tip  62 .  
         [0057]    As shown in FIG. 10, if the size of opening  21  in embossing plate  20  is smaller than the diameter of tip  62  of embossing tool  60 , tip  62  of embossing tool  60  will force sheet medium  50  only partially into opening  21  in embossing plate  20 . In this case embossing offset  32  must be relatively large in order to properly position and guide tool tip  62 . The dimension of offset  32  will vary depending on the thickness of embossing plate  20  and tool guide  30 , the nominal thickness of sheet media  50  for which the template is intended, the diameter of tip  62  of embossing tool  60 , and the size of opening  21  at each point in the design.  
         [0058]    The size of embossing offset  32  must be determined for each point on each opening  21  in the embossing plate  20  to permit tip  62  of the tool to properly fit the size and shape of opening  21 . If the embossing offset  32  is properly sized, the design may be highly detailed with elements of embossed designs that are significantly smaller that the tip diameter of embossing tool  60 , even to the point of the edges of the openings  21  meeting at a small acute angle.  
         [0059]    Another embodiment of the current invention, intended for embossing designs  51  in the corners and along the edges of sheet media  50 , as illustrated in FIG. 11, is shown in FIGS. 12 through 18. As in the previous embodiment, embossing template  10  comprises an embossing plate  20  and a tool guide  30  bonded together at bonding area  40 . All of the elements described in the previous embodiment for embossing corner designs are present in the portion of the current embodiment that is used to emboss corner designs, and are identified as  21   a ,  31   a ,  33   a ,  34   a ,  35   a , and  36   a . As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, this portion of this embodiment is used in the same manner as the previous embodiment. The corner design is positioned at each of corners of the sheet medium  50  aligning the edges adjacent to the corners with first and second edge guides  33   a  and  34   a  as shown in FIG. 16. One difference between this and the previous embodiment is the addition of a second set of embossing openings  21   b , tool guide openings  31   b , an additional edge guide  33   b , edge alignment holes  35   b , and edge insertion area  36   b , all of which are used to emboss a second design along the edge of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0060]    Referring now to FIG. 17, to emboss a design along an edge of sheet medium  50 , sheet medium  50  is disposed between embossing plate  20  and tool guide  30  on the edge design side of template  10  using insertion area  36 . Sheet medium  50  is positioned such that its edge abuts edge guide  31   b . This can be verified by inspection through edge alignment openings  35   b . Template  10  is slidingly positioned along the edge to the desired location. The design is embossed by inserting tip  62  of embossing tool  60  into tool guide opening  31   b , pressing sheet medium  50  into embossing plate opening  21  while pressing down tool  60  along tool path  61 .  
         [0061]    Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 17, this example illustrates an important additional capability of the current invention by which tool guide openings  31   a  and  31   b  can limit the motion of tip  62  of embossing tool  60  to something less than the total area of the embossing plate openings  21   a  and  21   b . In this example, the design is a continuous border with decorative corners. To this end, the tool guide openings  31   a  and  31   b  for both corner and edge designs, permit the user to emboss the edges of the designs but stop before the ends of their respective openings  21   a  and  21   b  in the embossing plate. This embosses the edges of the design, but leaves the ends so they can be continued by the next segment of the design.  
         [0062]    In practice, the four corners would first be embossed as shown in FIG. 16, with template  10  positioned at each of the corners in positions A, B, C, and D. Each edge would then be embossed, as shown in FIG. 17, with the edge portion of template  10  aligned to an edge with the tool guide openings  31   a  and  31   b , slightly overlapping corner design  51  previously embossed, as shown at position A. The edges of the design are embossed, and because the areas across the ends of the corner design and edge design were not embossed, the individually embossed designs will meet to form a continuous, seamless design. Template  10  is moved to additional positions, B, C, D, and so forth, as necessary, to complete the edge design to the next corner. Each position slightly overlaps the previous one, forming a continuous, seamless design. For clarity, the outline of the template at position C is not shown. This process is repeated for the other three sides of sheet medium  50  to complete the design depicted in FIG. 11.  
         [0063]    Another embodiment of the current invention, intended for embossing complex designs as illustrated in FIG. 19, is shown in FIG. 20. This provides for the use of more than one set of embossing openings  21  and tool guides  31  for creating a single design  51 , permitting designs to be embossed that have elements spaced too closely together for a single template  10  such as the flower petals in the sample design, or that have elements within other elements, such as the veins within the leaves in the sample design.  
         [0064]    This embodiment comprises similar elements as the previous embodiments, but the openings in the embossing plate and tool guide are grouped into sets as shown in FIG.  20 . The sets are designated on the drawing as areas  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c . In the example embodiment each set has it own first and second edge guides:  33   a  and  34   a  for openings set  10   a ,  33   b  and  34   b  for openings set  10   b , and  33   c  and  34   c  for openings set  10   c . Template  10  may have more or fewer sets than the example, and the sets may be arranged in any position on the template that best suites the design of the design and the number of sets required to create it.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 21 shows how the example template from FIG. 20 would be used to create design  51  shown in FIG. 19. In Step  1 , a corner of sheet medium  50  is inserted into one section of template  10 , and the openings in that section are embossed. In the example, this embosses the flower stem and flower center. In Step  2 , template  10  is repositioned so that a different set of openings is positioned over the corner embossed in Step  1 , and the design from those openings is added to those embossed in Step  1 . In the example, this embosses half of the flower petals and the leaves. In Step  3 , template  10  is repositioned again so the last set of openings is positioned over the same corner embossed in Steps  1  and  2 , and the remaining openings are embossed. In the example, this embosses the remaining flower petals and the veins within the leaves. This process may then be repeated for the other corners of the sheet medium.  
         [0066]    Another embodiment of the current invention is intended for embossing designs in conjunction with various paper punches such as those commonly known as craft punches, corner punches, corner rounders and photo mounting punches. These punches produce decorative or functional holes or slits in a sheet medium such as paper or card stock, or cut a decorative or functional shape around the corner of or along an edge of a sheet medium.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 22 illustrates one example of a mounting slit  53  created by a photo mounting punch. The mounting slit  53  is shown punched in one corner of a sheet medium  50 . The corners of a photograph or other insert media  52  that is to be affixed to sheet medium  50  are inserted into slits  53 . FIG. 23 illustrates how the addition of an embossed design created by this embodiment of the current invention can enhance the esthetics of the work.  
         [0068]    Referring now to FIG. 24, template  10  comprises the same elements identified in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, with the addition of indicia  38  identifying the design and location of mounting slit  53  produced by the punch with which template  10  is used.  
         [0069]    Referring now to FIG. 25, template  10  is positioned at each of the corners of sheet medium  50  at positions A, B, C, and D, and the design is embossed. Mounting slits  53  are then punched. For certain designs, holes or slits  53  may be punched first and the design embossed afterward. If the embossing is to be done relative to holes that are not located at the corners of sheet medium  50 , it may be desirable to punch the holes first and align embossing template  10  to the holes.  
         [0070]    Another embodiment of the invention, intended to emboss designs in combination with photo mounting punches in the corners of one face of a folded notecard, as illustrated in FIG. 26, is shown in FIG. 27. In this application, mounting slits  53  are punched in the corners of and embossed designs  51  applied to only one face  50   a  of the folded notecard. The other face  50   b  is not punched or embossed.  
         [0071]    Referring now to FIG. 27, the template contains two sets of openings such that the template can be used on the edge of the folded notecard in two different orientations to emboss the designs at the corners of the face of the card adjacent to the fold. The bonding areas  40   a  and  40   b  forming fixed edge guides  33   a  and  33   b  is limited to the edge of the template so second edge guides  34   a  and  34   b  may slide over the sheet medium for use along the edges of the folded notecard for the embossing the designs at the corners adjacent to the fold.  
         [0072]    Referring now to FIG. 28, template  10  is used at position A to emboss one of the corners adjacent to the fold. Template  10  is disposed on the edge of the card such that the edge of the card aligns to edge guides  33   a  and  33   b  and the fold of the card aligns with second edge guide  34   a  as verified by observing the fold through edge alignment opening  35 . The design is then embossed. Template  10  is removed from the folded notecard, is rotated 180°, and is disposed on the opposite edge at position D, aligning second edge guide  34   b  to the fold in the card and using the second set of openings to emboss the design in the second corner adjacent to the fold. Either set of edge guides  33   a  and  33   b  and openings  31   a  and  31   b  may be used to emboss the corners that are not adjacent to the fold at positions B and C. Then disposing the template on those corners, the user presses the top surface of template  10  at the area indicated by indicia  39  to hold that area of the tool guide layer against the embossing plate, thereby providing second edge guide  34   a  or  34   b  against which the corners of the card align.  
         [0073]    Flow chart FIG. 29 illustrates the process for embossing corner design  51  shown in FIG. 1, as produced by the template shown in FIGS. 2 through 6:  
         [0074]    In step  100 , the user selects template  10  for the design to be embossed into the corner of sheet medium  50 . In step  102 , the user inserts sheet medium  50  with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20  of embossing template  10 . Insertion area  36  provides a difference in the positions of the edges for tool guide  30  and embossing plates  20  to facilitate the insertion of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0075]    Next, in step  104 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into embossing template  10  until the edges of the sheet medium, adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact and align with first and second edge guides  33  and  34 . The user examines the position of the edges of sheet medium  50  through edge alignment openings  35  to verify that sheet medium  50  is fully seated against both edge guides. In step  106 , the user holds the template in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface  70 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.  
         [0076]    In step  108 , as shown in FIG. 6, the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside an edge of the opening of tool guide  30 . In step  110 , the user presses down on the embossing tool to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening in embossing plate  20 . In step  112 , as shown in FIG. 6, the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it around inside edge  31  of the opening in tool guide  30 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 .  
         [0077]    Next, in step  114 , the actions from steps  108  through  112  are repeated for all other openings in the design, if any. If the design has only a single opening as shown in the example design, this step is skipped. In step  116 , template  10  is positioned on each of the remaining corners and steps  102  through  114  are repeated to emboss design  51  thereon.  
         [0078]    In another embodiment of the present invention, flow chart FIG. 30 illustrates the process for embossing the combined corner and edge design shown in FIG. 10, as produced by template  10  shown in FIGS. 11 through 18. In step  100 , the user selects template  10  for the design to be embossed into the corner of sheet medium  50 . In step  102 , the user inserts sheet medium  50  with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward into the area of the template containing the corner design, inserting sheet medium  50  between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20  of embossing template  10 . The insertion area  36   a  provides a difference in the positions of the edges for tool guide  30  and embossing plates  20  to facilitate the insertion of sheet medium  50  by providing a surface on embossing plate  20  that can be pressed away from tool guide  30 , opening a gap between them for easier insertion of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0079]    Next, in step  104 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into the corner design area of embossing template  10  until the edges of sheet medium  50 , adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact and align with first and second edge guides  33   a  and  34   a . The user examines the position of the edges of sheet medium  50  through edge alignment openings  35   a  to verify that sheet medium  50  is fully seated against both edge guides  33  and  34 .  
         [0080]    In step  106 , the user holds template  10  in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface. In step  108 , as shown in FIG. 15, the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside one of the openings  31  in tool guide  30 . In step  110 , the user presses down on the embossing tool to form the sheet medium into the corresponding opening in the embossing plate.  
         [0081]    In step  112 , as shown in FIG. 6, the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it along opening  31  in tool guide  30  following tool path  61 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 . In step  114 , the actions from steps  108  through  112  are repeated for the other opening in the design, if any.  
         [0082]    Next, in step  116 , the template is positioned on each of the remaining corners and steps  102  through  114  are repeated to emboss the design thereon. In step  118 , template  10  is positioned such that sheet medium  50  is inserted into the portion of template  10  containing the edge design, again using the insertion area to facilitate the insertion. In step  120 , the edge of sheet medium  50  is positioned against edge guide  33  and with openings  31  in tool guide  30  slightly overlapping an embossed corner design as shown at position A in FIG. 18.  
         [0083]    In step  122 , the user holds template  10  in position on the edge of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface. In step  124 , as shown in FIG. 16, the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside one of openings  31  in tool guide  30 . In step  126 , the user presses down on embossing tool  60  to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening  21  in embossing plate  20 .  
         [0084]    Next, in step  128 , as shown in FIG. 16, the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it along opening  31  in tool guide  30  following tool path  61 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming half of the embossed edge design at that position on sheet medium  50 . In step  130 , the actions from steps  124  through  128  are repeated for the other opening in the design, forming the other half of the edge design at that position on sheet medium  50 . Because the edge design slightly overlaps the corner design and only the sides of the designs are embossed, not the ends, the corner and edge designs combine to form one continuous embossed design  51  with no noticeable seam.  
         [0085]    In step  132 , template  10  is moved along the edge of sheet medium  50  to the position identified as B in FIG. 18, and steps  122  through  130  are repeated to emboss the next portion of the design. Because the edge design slightly overlaps the previously embossed edge design and only the sides of the designs are embossed, not the ends, the edge designs combine to form one continuous embossed design  51  with no noticeable seam. In step  134 , step  132  is repeated at the remaining positions along the edge as identified as positions C and D in FIG. 18, completing the embossing of the edge design for one edge. Lastly, in step  136 , steps  118  through  134  are repeated for the remaining edges of sheet medium  50 , completing design  51  shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0086]    In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in flow chart FIG. 31, a process is described for embossing the complex corner design shown in FIG. 19, as produced by template  10  shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, which uses three sets of openings. In step  100 , the user selects template  10  for the design to be embossed into the corner of sheet medium  50 . In step  102 , the user inserts sheet medium  50  with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20  in one section  10   a  of embossing template  10 .  
         [0087]    Next, in step  104 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into section  10   a  of embossing template  10  until the edges of sheet medium  50 , adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact and align with first and second edge guides  33   a  and  34   a . In step  106 , the user holds template  10  in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface. In step  108 , the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside an edge of opening  31  of tool guide  30 .  
         [0088]    In step  110 , the user presses down on embossing tool  60  to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening  21  in embossing plate  20 . In step  112 , the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it around the inside edge of opening  31  in tool guide  30 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 . In step  114 , the actions from steps  108  through  112  are repeated for all other openings in the current section of the design. In step  116 , the actions from steps  102  through  114  are repeated on the same corner of sheet medium  50  for the other sections of template  10  to emboss the remaining elements of the design at that corner. In step  118 , steps  102  through  116  are repeated to emboss the design on each of the remaining corners.  
         [0089]    In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in flow chart FIG. 32, a process is described for embossing the photo mount corner design shown in FIG. 23, as produced by the template shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. In step  100 , the user selects template  10  and corresponding photo mounting punch for the design to be embossed and punched into the corners of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0090]    Next, in step  102 , the user inserts sheet medium  50  with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20  of embossing template  10 . In step  104 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into embossing template  10  until the edges of sheet medium  50 , adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact and align with first and second edge guides  33  and  34 . The user examines the position of the edges of sheet medium  50  through edge alignment openings  35  to verify that sheet medium  50  is fully seated against both edge guides  33  and  34 . In step  106 , the user holds template  10  in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface.  
         [0091]    Next, in step  108 , the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside an edge of opening  31  of tool guide  30 . In step  110 , the user presses down on embossing tool  60  to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening  21  in embossing plate  20 . In step  112 , the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it around the inside edge of opening  31  in tool guide  30 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 .  
         [0092]    In step  114 , the actions from steps  108  through  112  are repeated for all other openings in the design, if any. If the design has only a single opening as shown in the example design, this step is skipped. In step  116 , the photo mount punch corresponding to the embossed design is positioned at the embossed corner of sheet medium  50  and a mounting slit is punched. In step  118 , steps  102  through  116  are repeated for each of the remaining corners of sheet medium  50  to emboss design  51  thereon and punch the mounting slit.  
         [0093]    In one embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in flow chart FIG. 33, a process is described for embossing the photo mount corner design for use on folded notecards shown in FIG. 26, as produced by template  10 , shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. In step  100 , the user selects template  10  and corresponding photo mounting punch for the design to be embossed and punched into the corners of one face  50   a  of sheet medium  50 .  
         [0094]    Next, in step  102 , the user inserts an edge of the face  50   a  to be embossed of sheet medium  50  with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20  of embossing template  10 . In step  104 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into embossing template  10  until the edges of sheet medium  50 , adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact first edge guides  33   a  and  33   b . The template is slideably positioned along the edge of the folded notecard until tool guide opening  31   a  is positioned over the face  50   a  to be embossed and punched, and second edge guide  34   a  aligns with fold  54  in folded notecard  50 . The user examines the position of the fold and edge of folded notecard  50  through edge alignment openings  35   a  to verify that template  10  is properly positioned.  
         [0095]    In step  106 , the user holds template  10  in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface. In step  108 , the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside the edge of opening  31   a  of tool guide  30 , corresponding to the face of folded notecard  50  to be embossed. In step  110 , the user presses down on embossing tool  60  to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening  21  in embossing plate  20 .  
         [0096]    Next, in step  112 , the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it around the inside edge of opening  31  in tool guide  30 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 . In step  114 , the actions from steps  108  through  112  are repeated for all other openings in the design for the current face of folded notecard  50 , if any. If the design has only a single opening as shown in the example design, this step is skipped.  
         [0097]    In step  116 , the photo mount punch corresponding to the embossed design is positioned at the embossed corner of sheet medium  50  and a mounting slit is punched. In step  118 , the template is rotated 180° and disposed on the opposite edge of folded notecard  50 , and steps  102  through  116  are repeated using edge guides  33   a ,  33   b  and  34   b , edge alignment openings  35   b , and tool guide opening  31   b  to emboss and punch the opposite corner adjacent to the fold.  
         [0098]    Next, in step  120 , the user inserts the one of the unembossed corners of face  50   a  of folded notecard  50  being embossed with its face (the side on which the embossed design will be raised) downward into either corner design of embossing template  10  between embossing plate  30  and tool guide  20 . In step  122 , the user moves sheet medium  50  fully into embossing template  10  until the edges of sheet medium  50 , adjacent to the corner to be embossed, contact and align with first and second edge guides  33  and  34 . The user examines the position of the edges of sheet medium  50  through the edge alignment openings to verify that sheet medium  50  is fully seated against both edge guides  33  and  34 .  
         [0099]    In step  124 , the user holds template  10  in position on the corner of sheet medium  50  and places it and sheet medium  50 , which is still face down, on a working surface. In step  126 , the user positions tip  62  of embossing tool  60  inside an edge of opening  31  of tool guide  30 . In step  128 , the user presses down on embossing tool  60  to form sheet medium  50  into the corresponding opening  21  in embossing plate  20 .  
         [0100]    Next, in step  130 , the user continues to press down on embossing tool  60  and moves it around the inside edge of opening  31  in tool guide  30 , causing sheet medium  50  to be pressed into opening  21  in embossing plate  20  and forming embossed design  51  in sheet medium  50 .  
         [0101]    In step  132 , the actions from steps  126  through  130  are repeated for all other openings in the design, if any. If the design has only a single opening as shown in the example design, this step is skipped. In step  134 , the photo mount punch corresponding to the embossed design is positioned at the embossed corner of sheet medium  50  and a mounting slit is punched. In step  136 , the actions of steps  120  through  134  are repeated for the remaining corner of the face of folded notecard  50  being embossed and punched.  
         [0102]    Many and diverse embossed designs are possible using this invention. It is not to be construed that they are limited to designs like or similar to those shown herein. While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.  
         [0103]    What is claimed is: