Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – February 2017

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.)

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: U.S. (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!

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There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme (“myth”). The back contained a list of the month’s beads.

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!

20 Pieces 9.5 mm Bead Caps

I never used bead caps much until I started with this subscription. Now I love them. These match well with this month’s metal finish.

20 Pieces 4 x 14 mm Fairy Wing Beads

These are cute. I think I want to try making some fairy earrings using these and some smallish crystals.

2 Sets 29 x 22 Dragonfly Toggle Clasps

You’ll nearly always get clasps with this subscription. These are cute but also quite functional despite the design.

2 Pieces 38 mm Chandelier Drop Findings

Always good to have a few of these on hand. I’d suggest using smaller beads with these as they are a little bit heavy already.

2 Sets 21 x 12 mm Hook and Eye Clasps

You know, I don’t think I had ever used a hook and eye clasp before I received this box. So of course, I had to try one out immediately. They seem more secure and easier to operate than my usual favorite (toggles).

2 Pieces 35 mm Dragon Pendants

I used these in one of the necklaces I made.  There were A LOT of charms this month.

2 Pieces 42 mm Rectangle Pendants w/Seated Fairy

I used one of these. I would not suggest them for earrings, they are far too heavy.  These really need to be pendants or something similar.

6 Pieces 26 mm Fairy and Crescent Moon Charms

These are cute (and small, and they match some stampings I bought lately). I used a few in a necklace I made but there are still some left for me to play around with.

20 Pieces 8 mm Steel Filigree Round Beads

I used a few of these. I like the pattern. Glad to have more to play around with!

5 Pieces 12 x 16 mm Lampwork Glass Mushroom Beads

These are cute but I don’t typically wear jewelry with beads like this in it. However, I have some relatives they’d be great for (as part of a handmade gift!).

6 Pieces 12 x 8.5 mm Chinese Crystal Rondelle Beads in Magma AB

Love these. Just need to figure out the best way to use them for maximum impact!  They are burning a hole in one of my bead storage containers at the moment.

8 Pieces 13.5 mm Flame-Coated Swirl-Textured Glass Coin Beads

I also love these.  They may be my favorite thing from the box. But I really like flat circles and squares so I am not surprised about my reaction here.

24 Pieces 8 mm Frosted Malaysian Jade Beads in Mint Blue

This color is a nice contrast with all the warm colors this month. I didn’t end up using these yet but I have been buying a lot of beads in similar colors so I am sure there is something great in my stash to pair them with. Maybe some sea glass?

14 Pieces 10 mm Dragon’s Vein Agate Beads

These are probably going straight into a wrap bracelet with more of my (small) collection of semi-precious stones. They will provide a nice contrast there since most of my similar beads are in bright colors.

8 Pieces 10 mm Pink Lampwork Round Beads with Glow Specks

I intended to use these in one of the pieces I made (see below).  But it turns out they have huge bead holes and my seeds beads were either getting stuck or going right through.  So, I didn’t end up using them this time around. They are pretty, though, and I’m sure I’ll have another good idea soon.

1 Strand 4.5 mm Fancy Glass Part-Frosted Beads in Peach Shimmer (15”)

It is kind of funny but I used the beads from this photo all in one piece.  (I even ran out of the yellow jade and bicones.) Anyway, these little guys were fun to work with and reminded me a little of miniature “window” or “cathedral”’ beads.

1 Strand 6 mm Yellow Jade Beads (7.75”)

Not necessarily my favorite semi-precious color, but it fits super well with the overall theme. And I actually did use every last one of them!

100 Pieces 4 mm Chinese Crystal Bicone Beads in Magma AB

I used all of these too; you’ll see below. This is a nice basic shape in a color that coordinates pretty well for the month. Bicones are perfect for right angle weave, too, which I’ve done a lot of lately.

Here is a mixed metal piece from me. I realized after the fact that I would need to secure the bottoms of the fairies and dragons to the copper blanks, not just the tops (so they hang as expected). Well, I can easily fix that.

Here is another necklace I made with some of the accent beads and some seed beads I had on hand.

I used the dragonfly clasp on the back!

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. I definitely feel that I got a value that greatly exceeded the cost of the subscription. (If you divide the price by the number of items, it comes out to less than $1 per item, which is pretty good.) I am also pretty happy that I got to play around with more copper blanks and do some right angle weave.

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 February 2017 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?