BeadCrate Subscription Box Review – June 2016

BeadCrate is a monthly subscription box for beading enthusiasts. Choose from “The Hobbyist”, “The Enthusiast” or "The Collector". 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 Cost: “The Hobbyist” for $7.99 a month, “The Enthusiast” for $15.99 a month or "The Collector" for $35 a month.  Save with longer subscriptions. 

The Products: A selection of beads curated around a monthly theme (or beads that are just cool and random).

Ships to: US (free for “The Collector,” $5 for “The Enthusiast,” and $4 for “The Hobbyist”)

Check out all my BeadCrate reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory for more great beading, craft supply, and DIY project boxes.

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

This letter/information sheet accompanied the shipment. The theme this month was “Boho.” I would not really classify my style as boho but since these are loose beads, I can make whatever I want!

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!

4 mm Amber Rounds (Czech glass, 100 beads)

These wanted to roll everywhere so you have to look at them in the package. These will go well with the flowers (at the very end).

6 mm Opaque Red Faceted Rounds (Czech glass, 25 beads)

I love red. Not sure how I will use these yet, but I am always happy to get red glass!

23 x 5 mm Slim Leaf Brass Pendant (Israel, 2 pieces)

These are pretty dainty. I think they might look nice in dangly earrings.

6/0 Toho Opaque Turquoise (Japanese glass, 18 g)

These are a bit larger than the seed beads I typically like to work with. But, I think they would look nice in a piece with some silver findings and maybe a little dyed red coral.

Assorted Recycled Powder Glass (Ghana, 10 beads)

These are interesting. I don’t know if I have ever had beads from Ghana before, either. I think I might use them with some hemp cord.

1 mm Brown Leather Cord (India, 3 yards)

I don’t have any inspiration for this yet but I have had bits of cord sit around for a month or two and then I’ll think of ideas later. So I’m holding on to this.

4-5 mm Green Dyed Wood Rounds (Philippines, 88 beads)

There were a lot of wood beads from the Philippines this month. I think these may be my favorites but I have been really into turquoise, blue, and green lately.

Assorted Printed Bamboo Beads (Philippines, 50 beads)

I used these to make a bracelet. They have nice, large (but uneven) hopes and fun patterns.

3 mm Heishi Wood Beads (India, 200 beads)

Small, neutral beads like this are good to have on hand. They’re lightweight and will go with almost anything.

8 mm Hot Pink Dyed Wood Rounds (Philippines, 25 beads)

I’m actually starting to get an idea for these as I sit here writing this review. I think they could definitely work in a piece with the dark green (see previous photo) and yellow wood (on the right) wood beads.

10 x 6 mm Patikan Wood Saucers (Philippines, 10 beads)

I fear my camera didn’t do a great job of catching the details here. These would look nice in something with other neutral-colored beads. I love the shape.

6 x 9 mm Yellow Dyed Wood Ovals (Philippines, 15 beads)

These are bright. This is not a color I would wear on its own but I think it could definitely work in combination with other bright colors.

4 mm Toho Opaque Mix (Japan, 20 grams)

I can see using these to tie some of the brighter wood beads together. Or also practicing new seed bead stitches and stitch patterns.

10 x 25 mm 4 Face Oval Robles Wood Beads (Philippines, 3 beads)

These actually also might look nice with some of the brighter wood beads, for a bit of contrast.

15 x 5 White Wood Coins (Philippines, 10 beads)

I love flat disc beads (and squares, leaves, and other flat shapes) so I am happy to see these. I think they might look nice with some gold accents.

5 mm Round White Wood (Philippines, 70 beads)

The heishi beads from a bit earlier are a similar color so I am already thinking about how to use both types in the same necklace.

9 mm Medium Topaz Daisy Discs (Czech glass, 25 beads)

I really like these but as I said, I’m a fan of flat shapes. These will go nicely with the amber rounds from up above.

Here is a bracelet I made using some of this month’s beads. Wood beads were just screaming “macramé” to me but it has been 20 years since I did macramé so I kept it very simple. (I did buy some macramé books, though, so next time I feel like doing macramé I will treat you all to something more elaborate.)

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices. There were a lot more beads this month than usual; I guess wooden beads are a bit cheaper. But there are a whole bunch of directions you could go with this month’s beads, and I was happy to get a chance to dust off my macramé skills. I do think this is a pretty good deal since it’s basically just a little over $1 per item if you include the shipping fees.

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 June 2016 BeadCrate? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?