BeadCrate Subscription Box Review – July 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 “Lava.” I love reds and oranges and golds and warm colors in general, so this was right up my alley.

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!

12 mm Firepolished Faceted Hyacinth AB Czech Glass (2 beads)

No sure yet whether I’ll use these in earrings or in a mixed glass project. Sorry this picture is blurry; I just have a point and shoot digital camera and no ability to do a manual focus.

3 mm Firepolish Matte Jet Czech Glass (50 beads)

I used some of these in the bracelet I made to go with this review, but I have a few left and am thinking of doing something really simple and delicate with chain.

9 mm Coral Round (Dyed, 10 beads)

Ooh, I got some 9 mm bead caps in another box this month, and here are some 9 mm rounds. Still in the baggie because they were rolling everywhere! This reddish color will be perfect with the silver tone of the bead caps, though.

6 x 10 mm Jet Teardrop Machine Cut Czech Crystal (3 beads)

I love these. I don’t know what to do with them yet but they are beautiful in person.

8 mm Round Lava Stone (10 beads)

I have some jewelry with lava beads so I know they are great for aromatherapy purposes. I'll probably use them in a bracelet so I can sniff it as desired throughout the day.

3 mm Opaque Matte Red English Cut Rounds Czech Glass (50 beads)

Sorry if the names of these things don’t roll off the tongue; I just copied the names from the letter that came with this subscription. I used these in my bracelet as well. Because I like red.

6 mm Hyacinth Firepolish Faceted Round Czech Glass (25 beads)

These are pretty and a good basic item to have around.

4 mm Luster Opaque Yellow Cubes Czech Glass (50 beads)

I actually got some drops in another box last month with this same finish (which I had not seen before). So I can use them together.

3 mm Hyacinth/White/Jet Firepolished Czech Glass (50 beads)

I used these in my bracelet as well. They are variegated, which doesn’t show well in the picture but which looks nice in real life. Although they are glass, they kind of have a natural stone look due to the different colors.

4 mm Matte Mojave/Yucca Hurricane Glass Firepolish Czech Glass (50 beads)

These say “springtime” to me instead of “lava” but I have a fair amount of frosted pastel-type glass beads and these will look nice with them. The key to getting the most out of bead boxes is to hold off on using some things until the right companions come along, instead of trying to use everything at once, in the same piece, and getting a hot mess.

8 mm Opaque Red Antique Style Triangles Czech Glass (10 beads)

These have a fun vintage look to them. One of these days I am going to break down and buy a ton of vintage glass so I will be on the lookout for coordinating beads for these!

8/0 Toho Transparent Frosted Light Gray Japanese Glass (18 grams)

Last month, I didn’t have any idea what I would do with 8/0 seed beads but I found my answer this month (see below)!

I’ve been itching to do a Dutch spiral lately but I started to get neck strain so I stopped at bracelet length. You will see the gray seed beads as well as the various 3 mm Czech glass beads in this. I did tell my husband he needs to dissuade me the next time I try to make something with seed beads for a subscription box review (time being of the essence and all). But I got my start doing seed beading so I have a fondness for it still!

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices. If you divide the cost + shipping by the number of items, it works out to less than $2 per item. Some of the beads will likely have retail values lower than that, but others will cost more, so it pretty much averages out. (The informational letter gives an approximate retail value of a little over $29, which is higher than the cost of the box plus shipping.) I really enjoyed the colors and theme this month and could think of a lot of different ways to use the included beads so I am happy.

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