BeadCrate is a monthly subscription box for beading enthusiasts. Choose from “The Hobbyist” for $7.99 a month or “The Enthusiast” for $15.99 a month. Save with longer subscriptions. You can also buy a single box to see if this subscription is for you. This is a review of “The Enthusiast.”
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: BeadCrate
The Products: A selection of beads curated around a monthly theme (or beads that are just cool and random).
Ships to: US (free)
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This letter/information sheet accompanied the shipment. The theme this month was “April Showers.”
A note on prices: Items like this can come from a variety of different suppliers at many price points depending on how many you buy, etc. I couldn’t find a lot of these exact beads from common sources (e.g., Fire Mountain Gems) and it’s of questionable value to pick something similar because a slight difference in grading or size or material and you are looking at half or double the price (or an even greater difference). Even different colors of the same size and shape of glass beads are priced differently due to materials needed to make the colors!
4mm Labradorite Round Beads
Normally I would take these out of the bag so I could photograph them better, but they rolled all over the place…
Twisted Wire Beading Needle
I used this for my project (see below). In general, these are good for going through beads like pearls that have very small holes.
6 x 4 mm Frosted Black Diamond AB Rice Beads
These are more of a gray color and the AB coating is just on one side.
6 x 4 mm Jet AB Atlas Beads
I saw these two types of beads in the photo together, noted the size, and decided I had to use them in a project together. (See below.) I think it turned out well.
10 x 8 mm Pinched Diamond Luster Iris/Lt. Sapphire
I like the two tones here. I think these would be good as dangles or drops in earrings.
Grey Pressed Glass Mix
I used to love working with mixes (20 years ago). This brings me back. I have a couple of good ideas for these.
Sorry, Monkey managed to make it into this photo as well…
8 mm Crystal Crackle Beads
I love crackle glass. Someday I am going to look up how it is made. Although the theme is “April Showers,” these make me think of winter and ice. And they will go with pretty much anything.
8 mm Crystal AB Rhinestones on Black Glass
There is only one of these but you can just tell it is expensive. If I had a nice camera lens (instead of a point-and-shoot digital camera), I would totally take a close-up for you. It is delicate and will make a good centerpiece on a necklace or bracelet.
9 mm Light Sapphire Flat Squares
I love flat squares (and discs). Don’t know why. But I was definitely happy to see these!
6 mm Arctic Blue/Milky White Faceted Rounds
Two-tone firepolished beads are a nice staple and these colors match nicely with several of the other beads in the set.
Here is a bracelet I made from some of this month’s beads, some silk thread I had in my stash, and a cord I got in a previous month of Blueberry Cove Beads. I think it looks pretty nice although you will notice I am NOT showing you where the clasp is attached because that part was not very skillfully done. (I’m working on it.)
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices. Basically you have to ask yourself if each item is worth $1.60 to you and to me, they were. I appreciate the color coordination and I have a lot of blue in my wardrobe right now so these beads can be made into jewelry pieces that will fit right in.
Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, and findings.
What did you think of the April 2016 BeadCrate? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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