Bargain Bead Box is a monthly subscription promising over $40 worth of quality jewelry-making supplies every month.
This month, the packaging was changed slightly.
Angus says, “Mine!”
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!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme (“Wanderlust”). 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!
40 x 30 mm Filigree Style Donut Pendant
This is a bit smaller than some of the pendants you get with this subscription, but that is fine by me since I tend to prefer smaller pendants. I can think of a whole lot of directions to go with this but right now turquoise and coral are calling out to me for this one.
25 Pieces 7 mm 5-Prong Bead Caps
You get a lot of bead caps with this subscription. They’re something I rarely bought before but now I find myself using them all the time. I used some of these in one of my bracelets below.
48 Pieces Forest Green 6 mm Chinese Crystal Round Beads
48 Pieces Dark Topaz 6 mm Chinese Crystal Round Beads
You’ll get a lot of Chinese crystal with Bargain Bead Box. But, it looks nice and has a price point such that you get quite a lot of beads instead of just 5 or 6 as with some other types of crystal in other subscriptions. I used most of the green beads in one of the bracelets below and some of the topaz ones as well.
15” Strand 4 x 2 mm Synthetic Turquoise Heishe
These beads called out to me first from this package. Not sure why. But I just really wanted to use them. I kind of want to buy more, as well. I put a bunch of them in a bracelet and I like the result!
17” Strand 6 x 4 mm Chinese Crystal Rondelles in Pale Opaque Aqua
I don’t often buy glass or crystal beads in opaque colors but I really like these. It’s a great color for spring or even summer.
20 Pieces 6 mm Textured Barrel Spacer Beads
I like how the metal finishes of the beads and findings always match with this subscription. This antique gold finish really goes well with the turquoise this month. I used quite a few of these.
48 Pieces Light Topaz 6 mm Chinese Crystal Round Beads
Another great color of Chinese crystal! I like how well it coordinates with the green crystal and I also think it looks pretty good with the various turquoise beads.
9 Pieces Turquoise Dyed Howlite Faceted Nugget Beads
These are on the upper limit of size that I am comfortable with (I am small-boned and prefer delicate jewelry) but I think they will be great in a chunky sort of necklace that’s not too long, especially layered with some other necklaces in similar colors.
Synthetic Turquoise Point Pendant
I kind of just want to put a chain with this and then wear it as a necklace, also layered. Sometimes simple is great.
10 Pieces Sky Blue Distressed Resin Beads
These seem great for a less formal piece. I’m thinking a macramé bracelet with white cord right now, but we will see.
5 Pieces 16 mm Textured Round Shield Charms
I used a couple of these in the bracelets I made this month. I think they coordinate really well with the other metal beads and charms.
100 Pieces 4 mm Aqua Chinese Crystal Bicones
This is a great color for spring or summer. I’ve actually been hoarding a lot of beads in this color family so these are good to have around to use with everything I’ve bought lately.
16” Strand 8 mm Reconstituted Turquoise Beads
You pretty much never get real turquoise these days. It is always stabilized or reconstituted (or dyed howlite). But these beads have a nice, smooth finish, and I like the look of the darker lines in them. Not sure how I will use these yet but I have a lot in my stash they will go with.
10 Pieces 8 x 12 mm Round Stamped Drops
I used a few of these this month, as well. These are smaller charms and are really well-suited to being used in charm bracelets. They are also small enough for earrings.
4 Sets Toggle Clasps
I am getting such a clasp collection thanks to Bargain Bead Box. But that is a good thing – you can never have too many clasps. These are basic in terms of design but they should hold a lot of weight for larger necklaces.
This month I wanted to make some bangle bracelets. I didn’t have quite the stringing materials I wanted so I used 8-inch loops of memory wire, rounded the ends, and attached a few of the charms and magnetic clasps. They do have the look of a bangle set when they are on.
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; the information letter said the total retail value was $51 and I can believe that. At any rate, if you divide the price by the number of items, you get about $1 each, which I think is definitely reasonable. Don’t forget subscribers also get a discount off the already-low prices at Bead Box Bargains (including additional units of many items from the box)!
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 April 2017 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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