Help make a photograph into an embossing stamp

[icantdie]

Hi, I am trying to take the following image and turn it into an embossing die.



This is what I have done using the notebook filter but I wanted to ask you all if there is a better way to get a good clean single channel outline of an image like the one above.



Examples of embossing dies

 

[IamSam]

Have you tried using a

 

[IamSam]

Also remember that embossing is a high relief on the chosen material, so the die would be in low relief. Debossing (Letterpress) is a low relief on the chosen material, so the die would be in high relief.