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Dollar Bead Box Subscription Box Review – April 2016

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyMay 2, 2016 | 3 comments

dollarbeadbox-april-2016-box

The Dollar Bead Box
5 overall rating
2 Ratings | 0 Reviews

Dollar Bead Box is a monthly delivery of beads and beading products.  During a given month, reorder your favorite items from the Dollar Bead Box shop for just $1.  (This deal is only available to subscribers.)

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My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

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The Subscription Box: Dollar Bead Box

The Products: Beads and beading-related items including but not limited to stringing materials, Swarovski crystals, vintage glass, freshwater pearls, buttons, and more

The Cost: $19.50 + $4.50 shipping for the Dollar Bead Box or $8 for the Dollar Bead Bag (4 strands of 3 mm Czech Fire Polish Beads and 4 strands of 4 mm Czech Fire Polish Beads in every bag); free shipping with 3- and 6-month subscriptions (plus get an additional discount on 6-month subscriptions)

Ships to: US ($4.50 on a month-to-month subscription, free with longer subscriptions)

Check out all of our Dollar Bead Box reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory! 

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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The box included a letter reminding us that subscribers can buy more of the box items for $1 online.  The back of the letter included a list of items in the box.

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!

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Sapphire White Luster Drop

Drops always make me think of earrings.  I have some chandelier-style findings I think these would look good with.

Antique Brass Cubes

These are nice to use as spacers.  I like that they’re small and delicate as that is usually the style of jewelry I make (perhaps because I am small-boned and I think it looks better on me).

Champagne Crystal Drop

I think these would look good with some brass or antiqued bronze chain/findings.  Luckily I just bought a bunch of those…

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3 mm Fire Polish Turquoise with Travertine

You’ll always see some fire polished beads in this subscription.  I like that they move away from the standard colors and give us something more interesting.

Transparent Peridot Leaf

I like leaf beads and other pressed glass.  I used these in my project (see below).

5 mm Fire Polish Rose Gold Luster

These would look good with some rose quartz and gold.  Maybe some freshwater pearls.  I’ll see what I have in my stash (which occupies most of a closet at the moment…).

5 mm Fire Polish Ocean Green Luster

I have gotten a lot of sea-themed beads in subscription boxes lately.  These seem like they would go well in a sea-inspired piece.

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Pewter Flower Pendant

I used this in my project, too.  This is about as big as I like to get with pendants.

Pewter Buddha Charm

I have a lot of semiprecious stones hiding in my stash.  This makes me think of those (probably because when I was still getting Yogi Surprise jewelry, we got a lot of semiprecious beaded bracelets with little charms on them).

Matte Silver-Plated Pinch Beads

These are fun and a good accent for creations that use silver-toned metal.

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3 mm Fire Polish Matte Tanzanite Vitrail

Another good fire-polished selection.  I like the finish.

6 mm 2-hole Square in Light Siam

I was very excited by the squares last month so I am happy to see them in other colors.  (Plus red is my favorite!)

3 x 5 mm Pinch Bead in Crystal Yellow Green

I liked last month’s pinch beads, too, so am happy to have them in another color.

6 mm 2-hole Square in Crystal Vitrail Light

And more squares!  I like the finish on these.

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Large Tassels

Small Tassels

I’ve seen a lot of tassel necklaces lately and I don’t really think they’re “me.”  But these would go well on a bookmark (yes, I know people who still read paper books) or something similar.

Amethyst Dagger with Gold Wash

We got these in another color last month and I think I like these a bit better.  I think I’d use them next to real amethyst and maybe something gold-toned.

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I made a simpler necklace this time so you all didn’t have to wait until May to see it!  I used the flower centerpiece and the leaf beads.  The white beads are some mother of pearl chips I had in my stash.

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for the April 2016 Dollar Bead Box, for reasons explained above.  However, I thought there was a great variety of beads and I was especially enamored of the flat square beads.  I like the idea of getting a little bit of a lot of different items rather than a ton of the same item.

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 Dollar Bead Box?  Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?

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The Dollar Bead Box is a monthly subscription box that includes a large variety of beads, beading products, and items exclusive to the Dollar Bead Box. During the month, you can reorder any or all of the items in the box for just $1 each. For example, you can order items from the April box through t... read more.
Ragan Buckley
Ragan Buckley
Ragan stumbled across My Subscription Addiction in late 2013 and immediately subscribed to way too many beauty boxes. She's now focused on boxes for her cats and dog, vegan/vegetarian food boxes, and craft subscriptions (and she didn't give up beauty boxes entirely).

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3 comments

nana

I love seeing your creations, Ragan. You are so talented!

I got into beading when my girls were young, but then they lost interest. I still have tons of beads that I need to use up. For a while I made earrings to include as extras in swaps, but I’m not very talented.

Anyway, I think you are right that it’s impossible to actually evaluate how much the box cost so I think what’s best is that you give us the impression of value at the end. Something like “I would have totally spent $24 to get this box, I felt it was a bargain” or “I loved some of the beads, but I probably wouldn’t have felt too happy if I’d spent $24 on the box”.

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Ragan

That’s a good idea, I’ll try to remember to say something like that in bead reviews from now on.

Most of the time, if I don’t really see myself wearing something made from the beads, I can usually think of someone in my extended family who would like a jewelry gift including them (like kiddie things seem perfect for my 4- and 5-year old nieces, as an example).

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Ragan

Haha, I guess you all did have to wait until May to see it. But I am still way ahead of schedule compared to last month…

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