craftgrrl | adding glitz to a pre-made dress (Reply)

Hey Girls!

I have a question regarding adding crystals or rhinestones or something to a pre-made ice skating dress for my daughter.

Here's the deal. She's almost seven. She is just starting to ice skate in competitions and such I bought her a pretty stretch velvet skating dress that has pretty open criss-cross straps in the back. Because she is going to wear the dress in exhibition and also in a competition I need to fancy it up. Her music is from Anastasia so she needs to look the part of a little princess.

The dress is this color and has the same back. The skirt on her dress is velvet no chiffon. I've not had luck finding the same dress.

So here's the question. What's the best way to add some glitz to this dress? Do I get glue on rhinestones or am I better off getting crystal beads? One thought I had was doing some embroidery with gold thread and adding crystal beads to the design. I'd need to develop a pattern to do that and I'm nervous about anything I do wrecking the dress. I worry about glued stones popping off. I want whatever I do to stay on through her series of skating steps, spins, hops etc.

So what are your thoughts? I'm open to suggestions. I just want her to look good and I can't spend $500 on a custom made dress. I really need to learn to sew so I can make her dresses but I don't have time to do that before April 22nd.

Thanks.