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BeadCrate Subscription Box Review – October 2016

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyOct 21, 2016 | 3 comments

bead-crate-october-2016-box

BeadCrate
5 overall rating
2 Ratings | 0 Reviews

BeadCrate is a monthly subscription box for beading enthusiasts. Choose from “The Hobbyist” for $7.99 a month, “The Enthusiast” for $15.99 a month, or “The Collector” for $35 a month. You can also buy a single box to see if this subscription is for you.

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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.)

This review is of The Enthusiast, $15.99 a month, box. 

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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!

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This letter/information sheet accompanied the shipment. The theme this month was “Royal” and the beads were mostly in jewel tones.

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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8 x 3 mm Crystal AB Dime Beads, Czech Glass (25)

I am always happy when I get flat rounds so these were a win for me. I used some of them in the piece I made this month (see below).

6 x 8 mm Sapphire Nuggets, Czech Glass (25)

These were nice and big, but not too big for me. They coordinate nicely with a lot of this month’s other beads, too.

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7 x 6 mm Emerald Sparkling Diamonds, Czech Glass (25)

These have a bit smoother edges than the faceted rounds also in this photo. I am really liking this shade of green right now.

6 mm Firepolish Emerald Faceted Rounds, Czech Glass (25)

Faceted glass beads are so nice to have on hand. I think this green could look really good either with some other fall colors and gold or antique copper, or with some winter colors and silver accents.

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24 x 20 mm Ruby Chunky Table Cut Diamonds, Czech Glass (3)

These almost look like they were tumbled (like gemstones). I don’t have anything else like them, either. (I am totally a hoarder…)

10 mm Firepolish Ruby AB Faceted Rounds, Czech Glass (10)

Faceted glass is always good. Red glass is even better!

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Toho 8/0 Transparent Sapphire Seed Beads, 5.5” Tube, Japanese Glass (18 g)

You will usually get seed beads in this subscription. Generally one tube. These are often slightly larger sizes. I am more of a fan of working with 10s and 11s, but 8s are good for the center part of Dutch spirals and for irregular/freeform peyote stitch. (I don’t even know if either of those techniques are still popular but I taught myself beading in the late 1990s and haven’t done much to update my skills since then…)

6 mm Firepolish Double Sided AB Crystal Faceted Rounds, Czech Glass (25)

This has been a good month for me for clear beads. I like the AB coating a lot with these, too.

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Beadsmith Size A White Silamide Thread (40 yards)

I have previously only worked with nymo thread so it is nice to get a chance to try a different type. But, I don’t have any seed bead projects planned at the moment so I will hold off on using this until one comes up.

6 mm Sapphire Rounds, Czech Glass (50)

These go well with the nuggets from above and I did use them in the piece I made this month. I have quite a few left over, too, for future projects.

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6 mm Crystal Renaissance Firepolish Faceted Czech Glass (25)

More clear faceted beads, but they are a little different from the previous ones. (Sorry the details didn’t show up well in the photo…still learning the ins and outs of my new camera.)

Beadsmith Beeswax Thread Conditioner

I think it is kind of funny that we got thread conditioner and Silamide, since Silamide is already waxed. I will admit, I don’t usually wax my nymo thread before using it, but perhaps I should. Next time I am using nymo, I will try this out and see if it works better than unwaxed thread! It is probably not something I would’ve bought myself, but now that I have it I will certainly give it a try.

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I wanted to do something a little different so I just made a single, really long strand of beads (I also used some seed beads I had on hand, a mix with white, clear, silver, and blue). Then I showed four different ways you can wear it. (I used the Silamide to string this. I would probably not do that again in a piece like this because it twists around itself and you get tangles, especially in the last position.)

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices. The information card gives the box a value of about $33.26 and if you divide the total cost (including shipping) by the number of items, you get about $1.67 per item. That seems reasonable to me, especially since there were a lot of glass beads this month. (It is hard to find some of these types of beads in smaller quantities.) Plus, I was happy with the color selection – I love jewel tones!

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

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"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).

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3 comments

anDreama

I love the different ways you styled it! Have you done the Collector’s box? I’m curious what’s different in that one. Also, I love that they gave you thread and wax, I’ve never seen that in a bead box and I think it’s great when boxes throw in other stuff!

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Steph M.

Very pretty! I love long lariat styles. Great idea too as I get this sub but don’t wear these colors so have no idea what to make yet! Gonna have to pull out the odds and ends box and get creative 🙂

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tpop

The beeswax is really good for regular sewing thread when sewing on buttons or other small fixes. Smooths it down and keeps it from tangling.

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