Creating made-to-order items with embellishments

A process for placing a set of at least two embellishments upon an item to be customized as part of a made-to-order item request, the process comprising:

• associating a unique identifier associated with a tray with a specific made-to-order item request;
• placing the set of at least two embellishments for the made-to-order item request on the tray;
• loading the item to be customized onto a lower platen so that a first portion of the item to be customized is positioned to receive at least one embellishment from the set of at least two embellishments;
• advancing the lower platen and the tray to a pick & place station;
• using a controlled matrix of vacuum ports to pick up a first embellishment from the tray and position the first embellishment on a first target location for the first embellishment on the lower platen that is loaded with the first portion of the item to be customized;
• and
• subsequently using the controlled matrix of vacuum ports to pick up a second embellishment from the tray and position the second embellishment on a second target location.