Looking into creating a costume that involves a chiffon wrap skirt and leotard. The skirt is by Watercolor Dancewear and is beautiful, but needs a bit more zing to it under the lights. I'm afraid to glue crystals onto the chiffon. Has anyone else here done it? Or have you done the heat/iron-on crystals?

I did it this yr for one of my competition costumes. We used the dance dresses by mirella I dyed them and then we glued rhinestones on the skirts using craft glue. I got it at JoAnns and it was called "Jewel It" I think. It dried clear and the skirts looked great.

"Jewel It" is great, but make sure you use a toothpick to only apply a little bit of the glue. If you use too much it makes little dry patches on the dress, even though they are clear, they make the dress feel wierd.

Good Luck. I love Watercolors, but they are sooo expensive!

I've done both the glue(E6000) and with the heat stones w/ the glue already on it. Both worked great - just watch out with the E6000 or any other glue to not use to much - it will goop and be messy.

Another question...since this is one of those wrap around skirts that's normally washable, have any of you that glued crystals ever washed or dry cleaned the skirt/dress at any time? I'm just being proactive and seeking out any possible situations that may arise as these will be costumes used on a regular basis for shows around the community.

Yes and yes. I found the rhinestones stay on pretty well - we used a proper fabric glue. Be very very gentle with washing though - we chickened out and had it professionally dry-cleaned. The stones can fall off if they're 'scrubbed' together, if you get what I mean.

We also do glueing on most of our costumes. I hint for glueing with chiffon. Put a piece of wax paper under the chiffon, it prevents it from sticking and it's easier to peel off.