As an art teacher in the 1970s, LaDorna Ellison Eichenberg was driven by a passion for creative expression. LaDorna would cut letters and shapes from brightly colored paper to stimulate her students' artistic impulses. However, the process was time-consuming and limiting. Out of her necessity grew a vision, and out of the vision grew invention.

In 1977, LaDorna and her husband, Bob Eichenberg, introduced the first hand-operated die-cutting machine - the Ellison® LetterMachine®. For years and years Ellison machines were embraced by educators everywhere, and now they're found around the world, including more than 80% of schools across the United States. Ellison die-cutting equipment has become essential in educators' quest to inspire their students to achieve academic success and creative brilliance.

Improving upon the success of the LetterMachine and ever-committed to the pursuit of educational excellence, Ellison developed several lines of award-winning products, including a breakthrough brand of light-industrial die-cutting machines known as the Prestige® SpaceSaver™, Prestige Pro and Prestige Select. These machines continue to offer unlimited opportunities of expression for the education, fashion, craft and home décor industries. With the Sizzix® Machine, the consumer version of the Ellison machine, Ellison extended its market reach and established a landmark brand for versatility and affordability.

The release of the AllStar® Machine continues the company's commitment to the educational market with an all-convenient, all-safe and all-affordable machine featuring its own exclusive line of dies for the classroom. For consumers, the exciting introduction of ellison design™, the preferred crafting experience, utilizes the Big Shot™ and Tag-a-long™ machines to create a new plateau of value, quality and 100% compatibility with Sizzix products. This always expanding system ensures lasting quality and creative flexibility in an ever-changing industry.

In 2005, the company expanded its family when it opened its European headquarters in the United Kingdom. With a staff numbering in the hundreds, Ellison carries out its current creative vision from the company's global headquarters in Lake Forest, California. Now in the capable hands of LaDorna's daughter, Lisa Corcoran, Ellison continues to be recognized as the leader in die-cutting innovation and product development. This has not only enabled the company to successfully partner with other leading manufacturers, but more importantly, allowed individuals to express their personal and professional creativity since 1977.