An apparatus for embossing and crimping a plurality of sheet material web layers, including a first, second and third roll. The first roll including at least one element extending radially therefrom. The second roll has a resilient surface that engages the element to form a first nip therebetween. The third roll has a non-resilient surface that engages the element to form a second nip therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the first roll includes at least a first and second element extending radially therefrom, with the first element having a greater radial height than the second element, which avoids contact with the third roll. The layers of sheet material web are embossed by the first and second elements as they are passed through the first nip, and are crimped together by the first element as they are passed through the second nip. In a preferred embodiment, the first roll includes a plurality of first and second elements arranged in a pattern. A method for embossing and crimping sheet material web assembly includes passing the plurality of layers of sheet material web through the first nip to emboss the layers and through the second nip to crimp the layers together. A sheet material web assembly includes a plurality of layers of sheet material web, with each layer having a plurality of embossments arranged in a pattern. The embossments in each layer are raised in the same direction and nest within the plurality of embossments in the other layers. A portion of the pattern of embossments further comprises a plurality of crimped embossments that bind the plurality of layers together.