Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Club Review – November 2017

Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Clubs are the original beading subscription boxes (they’ve been around since 2000). 

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This is a review of the Single 2-Hole Beads of the Month, which is $22.95 a month.

The Subscription Box: Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Club

The Cost: Varies depending on the club selected and whether you choose the single or double club; this is a review of the Single 2-Hole Beads of the Month, which is $22.95/month for 8 different types of color-coordinated 2-hole Japanese and/or Czech shaped beads; save a bit more with the double clubs.

The Products: 8 packages of color-coordinated beads; choose from “Hot and Trendy” beads, “2-Hole Beads,” “Superduos,” “11/0 Delicas,” “11/0 Seed Beads,” “Swarovski crystals,” or a rotating club where you get a different selection each month.

Good to know: I actually subscribe to several of these clubs and they all come in the same package. I’m going to do a rotation with these reviews so you’ll see something a little different each month.

Ships to: US, cost varies depending on the number of clubs subscribed to (shipping is $4.50 for one club; refer to their FAQ for shipping costs for additional clubs)

Check out all of our Adornable Element Beads of the Month Reviews and more great beading, craft supply, and DIY project boxes in the Craft Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

The package came with a list of the beads included as well as retail values. Note: I am using the retail values from this list. They seem reasonable to me, plus it is pretty much impossible to find each color from the same online shop, let alone the same exact package size, so things like quantity discounts are not going to apply here. This month’s theme is “Wildflowers.” (For what it’s worth, I really think the colors fit the themes and go together nicely with these subscriptions.)

Satin Metallic Sapphire Crescents (6.25 g) – Listed Value $2.50

I don’t have a plan for these yet, but I have a lot of crescent beads so I need to start looking for some patterns to use them in. Or I need to figure out how to design my own patterns (something I’ve been wanting to try for awhile). At any rate, this blue color should work in a lot of different designs.

Vega on Chalk Dobbles (8 pieces) – Listed Value $2.50

Dobble beads are something else I need patterns for (and something else I have a lot of). These are round beads that are a little bigger than the Rounduos from Potomac. I don’t have many beads with this finish so I am glad to have a few to work with.

Backlit Periwinkle Gemduos (625 g) – Listed Value $2.50

I really like the backlit bead finishes and am definitely happy to get some. I used some of these in a bracelet this month.

Pastel Amber Infinity Beads (7.5 g) – Listed Value $4.50

I have a lot of infinity beads already, but none in this color. Plus, there are a generous number of them here, so I’ll definitely be able to do something good. (A lot of times, I just start typing the names of bead shapes into Google or Etsy, or if I know I have a lot of something, I’ll keep an eye out for ideas in books or magazines.)

Opaque Matte Silk Violet Kheops Par Puca (7.5 g) – Listed Value $5

I was really tempted to make the same bracelet as in August since I got rullas, Kheops Par Puca, and crescents again. And hey, I’ve already paid for the pattern. I still might do it – I’ve got a bunch of montees on order because Artbeads was having a 65% off sale. This purple color is fun and underrepresented in my stash.

Pastel Amber Miniduos (6.25 g) – Listed Value $3.50

These match the infinity beads, although I used them with the gemduos and nib-bits (see below) because I found a free pattern that called for miniduos. I have some miniduos but not many, so I’m happy to get more. (For the record, I have a stash of almost – but not quite – every type of shaped bead in existence…)  You don’t get superduos in this subscription (a slightly larger version of the same shape) but if you like them, Adornable Elements offers a superduo-only subscription.

Crystal Blue Luster Nib-Bits (7.5 g) – Listed Value $2.50

NIB-BITS! I think that is one of my favorite bead names.  This color went really well with the gemduos, and coincidentally, I found a free pattern calling for both gemduos and nib-bits, so of course, I had to try it out.

Vega on Chalk Rullas (7.5 g) – Listed Value $2.50

These are the same color as the dobble beads, if you were keeping track. Rullas are cylindrical beads with holes near either end perpendicular to the long axis. I was sorting my stash today and found way more rullas than one person needs, but I did not have this color, so into a bead storage container they went.

Here is a bracelet I made with the nib-bits, gemduos, and miniduos. I just went to a free pattern site hosted by the Beadsmith and couldn’t believe my luck that there were three different types of beads from this shipment in the same pattern. (Here is the link.)

You can get quite a few different looks depending on what colors you choose. (I also couldn’t believe my luck that I had some Matubo 7/0 beads in a color that even remotely looked all right with the beads from the shipment, as this is not a type of bead I buy many of. I think I got the ones I have because they were on clearance somewhere. Of course, finding 11/0 seed beads in a coordinating color was a cinch.) You can also use diamonduo beads in patterns that call for gemduos.

Here is another view of the bracelet. It was pretty quick to work up, even though my Fireline snapped as I was adding the clasp and I kept dropping jump rings onto the carpet.

Verdict: I calculated a value for the November 2017 Single 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club of $25.50. This is a couple of dollars above the cost of the subscription, although when you factor in shipping, it comes out a little short. The way to make up the difference here is to buy more beads! I save on shipping because I get three clubs (I just review one per month) and you can also save a little more by going for the double clubs.

More importantly, I really, really love 2-hole beads, and they can be expensive. There are so many great patterns coming out with these beads lately and it’s great to have enough to just work up a bracelet or some earrings in a day or two. The color coordination means all I usually need to add are some seed beads and I’m good to go with lots of different patterns.

What did you think of the November 2017 Single 2-Hole Beads of the Month club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?