Facebook PixelBeadCrate Subscription Box Review – May 2016 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

BeadCrate Subscription Box Review – May 2016

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyJun 29, 2016 | 5 comments

beadcrate-may-2016-box

BeadCrate
5 overall rating
2 Ratings | 0 Reviews

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.”

beadcrate-may-2016-baggie

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

beadcrate-may-2016-allitems

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)

Check out all my BeadCrate reviews and visit 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!

beadcrate-may-2016-letter

This letter/information sheet accompanied the shipment.  The theme this month was “Mother’s Day” (although I did receive the box a little bit after Mother’s Day).

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!

beadcrate-may-2016-ab

4 x 6 mm Potato Beads in Lumi Amethyst (~50 beads)

These are pretty.  I haven’t worked with purple much lately but I should as I have totally been into purple nail polish, lipstick, and shoes.  Gotta color coordinate and all…

8 x 10 mm Peridot Vertical Hole Leaves (~25 beads)

I love leaf beads.  I am one day going to collect all the ones I have and make a necklace out of them.

beadcrate-may-2016-ce

3 mm Sapphire AB Rounds (~200 beads)

I used these in my project (see below).  I didn’t photograph them outside the bag because they would’ve rolled everywhere.

4 mm Milky Jonquil Rondelle (~100 beads)

I don’t have any plans for these yet.  But that is the fun thing about bead subscriptions.  You don’t have to use everything at once.  Then, some other package from some other month (or other subscription box) will come along and you’ll immediately see how to use something you already own with the new beads.

beadcrate-may-2016-d

9 x 12 Beadalon Bead Mat (2 count)

These are nice.  If you are stringing something one-stranded, or just don’t want your beads to roll around, you can lay them out here.  Just keep the cats away…

beadcrate-may-2016-fg

8 x 6 mm Crystal AB Bell Flowers (~25 beads)

I like glass shapes – flowers, leaves, squares, etc.  These would look nice in some dangly earrings.

8/0 Toho Transparent Light Amethyst Seed Beads (18 g)

I am getting quite a nice collection of seed beads.  I’m hesitant to use seed beads in any projects I show here because of the time commitment (you don’t want to see a review of a May box in September), but I definitely make things with them on occasion.

beadcrate-may-2016-hi

12 mm Opaque Blue/Picasso Polished Drop Triangles (6 beads)

Not sure how I will use these yet.  I feel like I need to collect some other opaque beads to mix in with these.  I also think they might look good in a project with wood or metal beads.  We’ll have to see.

8 x 5 mm Rose Quartz Faceted Rondelles (10 beads)

Love rose quartz.  Have a lot of it in various shapes.  But I don’t have anything quite like these.

beadcrate-may-2016-jk

14 x 4 mm Blue/Light Green Long Tubes (~25 beads)

I used these in my project as well.  I went for blues and greens this time around, as you will see.  (There are a lot of blues and turquoises in my wardrobe currently.)

8 x 6 mm Alexandrite Small Rosebud Firepolish (~25 beads)

These are quite pretty.  They catch the light nicely.

beadcrate-may-2016-necklace

Here is a necklace I made using a few items from the box (as well as some items from past months, other bead boxes, and my stash).  I know an octopus doesn’t exactly say “Mother’s Day” but I found those octopus pendants on Ali Express and just had to do something with them as soon as possible.

Verdict:  I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices.   It works out to about $1.45 per item and I think the value is definitely there.  A tube of seed beads costs more than that, nice carved rose quartz can be expensive, and I’m sure the bead mats are more than 70 cents each, you know?  I made one necklace so far and have lots of beads to use in other pieces, so I think Bead Crate was a good value this month (as usual).

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

Starting at $35.00
Subscribe Now
"Each month you will receive a ‘crate’ full of hand curated beads selected to inspire and delight. Each of our boxes is designed to enhance your own creative journey. Not sure a subscription is right for you? No problem, go to our SHOP to try a one-time box -- no fuss, no muss and no commitment ;)"
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).

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

5 comments

Amber Rose

Wait, so you’ve shopped on Ali express, I stumble upon that site from time to time, and just was too scared to trust that site. I thought maybe my card would have a canceled transaction, like fraud prevention… As I tried to order something from China once, and boy oh boy, my cards would not go thru.
I think I’ve seen beads and filigree and so much more, takes me to that site… So it’s trust worthy? I am excited to hear it, and glad I found this review, I’m just now getting curious about these subscription boxes! Years ago I ordered a wine of the month for 3 months for someone, now I hear everyone is getting these subscriptions! I can’t wait to start! So glad I found this site in general! I’m reading soooooo many reviews, and can’t wait to be an addict!

Reply ButtonReply

Wendy

beautiful as usual, Ragan! Love the octopus necklace!

Reply ButtonReply

I make jewelry so, of course, this is my favorite review to read each month. Your necklace is absolutely beautiful!!!

Reply ButtonReply

Ragan

Thanks. I’m working on a bracelet for Dollar Bead Box and a necklace for Blueberry Cove Beads so I hope to send those reviews off this weekend.

Reply ButtonReply

Julia

I love your necklace. I think octopus *does* say “mother”, since it seems like you need multiple arms to handle life!

[Not “mother’s day”, because one should honor mom and do things for her year round, NOT on the one day that merchants guilt people into spending money as emotional blackmail. OK, off my soapbox now.]

Reply ButtonReply