Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – July 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 (“Growth”). 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!

10 Pieces 8 mm Indian Agate Coin Beads

I used all of these in a necklace (see below). I love flat rounds and squares and such, so I was very happy to see these.

20 Pieces 8 mm Frosted Jasper Round Beads

I think these will look good with some brass chain or wire (a lot of which I’ve purchased lately). I’m still running through some ideas.

15.5” Strand 6 mm Green Aventurine Beads

I used almost all of these (or maybe I did use all of them, now I forget). I like getting semi-precious beads and I enjoyed the natural variation in stone color.

3 Pieces 16 mm Acorn Charms

I think I have some other woodland themed charms (other acorns, leaves, etc.). I think I will make a mixed metal charm bracelet using these.

48 Pieces 6 x 4 mm Crystal Rondelle Beads in Pale Sun with Shimmer Coat

I haven’t used these yet, but I know they won’t be around for long. I love the facets and the finish on them, and the color is pretty versatile.

40 Pieces 8 mm Leaf Bead Caps

You’ll usually get bead caps with this subscription. I used to not use bead caps often, but now I am a big fan.  These are different from anything else in my collection.

39 mm Triple Leaf Pendant

You’ll usually get a few pendants with this subscription.  This one is actually fairly understated (and also more my style).

20 Pieces 6 x 9 mm Leaf Spacer Beads

One thing that I love about this subscription is that you’ll get a lot of metal, but the finish will always match in any given month. So you’re not stuck wondering how to use brass, copper, and silver tones altogether. Also, I just like getting metal, and not many of the bead subscriptions include very much of it.

3 Pieces 33 mm Flowering Branch Pendants

These could work as earrings and a matching necklace (as long as you don’t put too much else on the earrings). Or you could make matching necklaces and gift to a few different people. I think it might be fun to add a few gemstone chips with a bit of wire around the edge, as well.

4 Sets Leaf Hook and Eye Clasps

You’ll always get clasps with this subscription, usually toggle or hook and eye. I actually used two of these in this month’s necklace for a bit of a different closure style. I like how it turned out!

20 Pieces 8 mm Textured Glass Semi-Round Beads in Blue-Green Iris

These are unusual, I don’t think I’ve seen other beads like them. But that makes them kind of fun. I used a few but still have some left.

100 Pieces 4 mm Chinese Crystal Bicone Beads in Sky Blue Iris

Bargain Bead Box almost always includes some Chinese crystal. It’s not quite as precision-manufactured as Swarovski, but it is still nicely faceted and is an economical choice. I used pretty much all of these in a necklace.

15.5” Strand 4 mm Copper-Plated Glass Textured Round Beads

I’ve been very into copper anything lately, so I was happy to see these. The finish is really interesting, too.

24 Pieces 8 x 4 mm Glass Rondelle Beads in Sea Green Opal

I used a few of these in my necklace. The color goes really well with my current collection, too, so the remaining beads won’t be around for long.

Handmade Green Aventurine Tree of Life Pendant

This is quite large! I actually kind of want to try to make some of these on a smaller scale. I’m working up to wearing larger pendants, though, and I do like the look of the green and silver together.

Here is a necklace I made with a lot of this month’s beads and some chain. Don’t pay too much attention to the thread showing in the back, I was sort of loose with my right-angle weave this time. I will probably go back over it again to tighten things up. I used two clasps in the front for a little bit of a different closure strategy.

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 $56 and I can believe that. If you divide the cost of the subscription by the number of items, you get about $1.06 per item, which I think is a very good deal. I was definitely into the greens this month.

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