Nothing Is Impossible
She couldn't believe she could build such an impressive masterpiece all by herself. It was a long and difficult process, but the results spoke for themselves.
After accomplishing this feat, she knew that there was nothing impossible for her now.
Return To Family
After years of service in the Marines Corps, Amber Mills decided to return to family life and spend time with her relatives.
Everything was fine at first, but with time things started getting tough.
Unexpected Diagnosis
Amber was very busy taking care of two daughters and a son. But despite this, she was still looking for a job. After a while, she began to notice that her life was getting monotonous. But this wasn't the end of all. She was feeling exhausted.
Amber went to see a doctor. What he told completely shocked her. It was multiple sclerosis.
One Day Changed Everything
“I live with a lot of pain and a lot of uncertainty of what each day will bring,” she said.
Amber felt drained and uninterested in everything. Nothing, she believed, could bring her back to a happy life, but everything changed one day.
Wedding Dress Contest
Amber was browsing the internet one day when she came across a website called CheapChicWeddings. Every year, the website hosts a wedding dress design contest.
But these weren't your typical wedding dresses. All of the dresses were made of... toilet paper!
Toilet Paper
CheapChicWeddings has a partnership with a toilet paper company. Every participant was required to create a full-size wedding dress out of toilet paper.
It was unusual and strange, yet it piqued Amber's interest. So she decided to give it a shot.
Start Of New Life
“I entered the contest because, with multiple sclerosis and all of the health issues I have, I had become emotionally defeated in life,” says Amber.
Amber decided to turn around her life, she had no design experience, but that didn't stop her. She signed up for the contest.
The Process
Amber went online to learn about toilet paper paste and then got to work. She boiled toilet paper before mixing it with glue. “I blend it just like mashed potatoes,” she explains.
Her dress was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. But it wasn't easy for her.
Finished Dress
The dress took three months to complete due to her illness. Amber was the last who sent the final design of the dress for judgment.
Other contestants had experience in dress designing. But she stayed optimistic. She knew her dress was gorgeous. Amber soon received the verdict.
The Top 10
Amber enjoyed the time while making the dress, but she didn't expect to win the contest. So she was surprised to learn that her dress had made the top 10 finalists.
“I wanted to push myself and see what I pull out,” Amber said.
“Something Blue”
Amber was so pleased with herself that she entered the contest again the following year. She was inspired by old Hollywood elegance and created an incredible dress called "Something Blue."
“My veil was the hardest part by far. It took weeks!” said Amber.
New Dress
And the result was stunning. “I made a frame out of wooden rods and hand wove the entire thing out of heavy-duty sewing thread," Ambers talks about her creation.
She continues, "Then I used white Mod Podge hot glue to make the tiny pearls that I applied one by one with tweezers. I wanted it to look real.”
New York Show
This time Amber won third place and was awarded $2,500. She was invited to the event in New York to present her dress and participate in the final judging.
It was impossible to put a stop to her now. Amber was already planning her new design for the competition the next year.
The Third Dress
“This could be my year for $10,000." Amber was hard at work on her third gown. She used pink Charmin toilet rolls.
This dress surpassed all her previous works.
Something More Than Just A Win
Unfortunately, Amber's outfit did not stand out to the judges this time, and she did not make the top ten. But it wasn't Amber's goal. The creation of dresses brought meaning to her life. It was more than a hobby.
Amber was glad she entered this contest several years ago because it had changed her life for the better.