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Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – November 2016

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyNov 22, 2016 | 5 comments

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Bargain Bead Box
5 overall rating
10 Ratings | 2 Reviews

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly subscription promising over $40 worth of quality jewelry-making supplies every month.

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: Bargain Bead Box

The Cost: $15.95 a month

The Products: Designer quality beads in materials ranging from crystal to glass to semi-precious gemstones, plus metal beads and findings. Bargain Bead Box does not send any plastic beads or seed beads.

Ships to: US (free), Canada for $7.50

Check out all of our Bargain Bead Box reviews 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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There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme (“first frost”). The back contained a list of the month’s beads.

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The beads were sorted into groups in these little paper envelopes. Of course, I immediately mixed everything together for one of the photos above. But, I am pretty good at identifying items like these so no worries!

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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6 mm Steel Rhinestone Rondelle Spacers (20)

These are great for adding a bit of extra sparkle to silver-tone pieces. I think I will be using them in a bracelet with some holiday-colored faux pearls I have at home.

7x 4 mm Bead Caps (12)

You will nearly always get bead caps with this subscription. They seem to choose one metal tone per month and your bead caps will match that color. This month was silver-tone!

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8 mm Faceted Steel Blue Glass Round Beads (13” strand)

These are a good, basic color that will go with almost anything. I’ve put these in my stash for use in other winter creations. But I think the color would be great for summer/ocean themed things, as well.

4 mm Silver Grey Metallic Chinese Crystal Bicone Beads (100)

These were nice and sparkly and I used quite a lot of them in the necklace I made this month.

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Swirl Accent Toggle Clasps (2 sets)

You will almost always get clasps with this subscription, which I absolutely love. That does not happen with all the beading subscriptions. And it saves me sometimes from having to order clasps just to finish a project.

4.3 x 3 mm Steel Jewelry Chain (5 feet)

I have a lot of steel chain but I did use this, this month. It is hard to see unless you look super closely, but the links here are a little textured instead of being just plain smooth metal.

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8 mm Steel Blue Crystal Coin Beads (12)

I think these are great.  But I have always loved flat rounds and squares. This is another blue that seems quite versatile to me.

6 mm Smoke Grey Glass Round Beads (13” strand)

Unfortunately, grey is now a fall color in Georgia thanks to all the smoke in the air from wildfires north of where I live! But, this is a good neutral color that should work in a lot of different ways.

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9 mm 6-Loop Link Findings (18)

After I took photos for this box, my brain kept coming back to these. I started making a necklace without a clear plan, but the shape of these kind of ended up dictating what I did.  I’m happy with the result (see below).

14 mm Cut Glass Crystal Snowflakes in Silver (2)

Someday when I get a little better with wire, these are begging to be turned into earrings.

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6 mm Matte Finish Rose Quartz Rounds (7.5” strand)

I like that we got this style of bead in two different sizes (see below). (Note: I am pretty sure this is the 6 mm strand. Next time I am putting a coin in the picture as a size reference, though…)

38 mm Rose Quartz Wire-Wrapped Point Pendant

You’ll almost always get a pendant or centerpiece or two in this subscription box. This is a little smaller than what you usually get, but since my taste in jewelry tends towards daintier pieces, that’s fine by me.

Rose Quartz Oval Pendant with Silver-Finished Steel Edging

This must be stabilized in some way because it *looks* a bit rough but feels smooth to the touch. I have some ceramic beads in my stash that will look nice with this.

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10 x 8 mm Silver Finished Chinese Crystal Rondelle Beads (12)

These go very well with the “first frost” theme. I can see them working in holiday pieces, as well if you are going for a silver-tone finish instead of a warmer metal.

8 x 6 mm Half-Metallic Cornflower Crystal Rondelle Beads (24)

I like the sparkle that the partial metallic coating adds to these.  It makes them way more interesting than they would be without it!

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4 x 3 mm Crystal Rondelle Beads in Semi-Opaque Pink (120)

I didn’t realize until much later that these were not actual rose quartz, the color matches so well.  I used them in the necklace I made this month (see below).

8 mm Matte Finished Rose Quartz Rounds (7.5”)

And here is a larger size of rose quartz beads to go with the ones a few pictures back.  I think the matte finish is interesting and not something I see too often.

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Here is a necklace I made using lots of stuff from the box (toggle clasp in back plus steel jewelry chain, silver grey bicones, the link findings, and the semi-opaque pink rondelles). I supplied eye pins, jump rings, pliers, and quite a lot of time!

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. The letter that came with the package says the retail value is $51, which is more than three times the cost of the subscription. I just really feel like there was a TON of stuff this month (as there is every month) and I love that you get findings and metal pieces in addition to just beads. Plus it was nice getting some ssemi preciousstones this month, too!

Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, etc.

What did you think of the November 2016 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?

Starting at $19.49
Subscribe Now

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly subscription box for bead lovers and jewelry designers. Each shipment includes over $40 worth of glass, gemstone, crystal, and/or metal beads & findings for $17.95 per month, curated around a surprise theme.

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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5 comments

Nikki G

You make such gorgeous jewelry!

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Jann

Gorgeous necklace, I love seeing your work! This subscription seems to be one of the better values of the bead boxes. It has a nice variety of stuff, makes me want to bead again. 🙂

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Steph M.

Me too! Absolutely adore that necklace as well, so inspiring that I want to try my hand at this kind of style now 🙂

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WendyM

Oh my gosh that necklace is so incredibly beautiful it seriously took my breath away. The perfect necklace for the holidays!

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Caligirl

Love it.

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