Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – September 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 (“Autumn Elegance”). 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!

15” Strand 8 mm Autumn Jasper Round Gemstone Beads

I’m always happy to get semiprecious rounds. I have been trying to incorporate more gemstones into my work lately and I don’t have much in this size or color scheme.  These would be good in some chunky bracelets.

1m 5 x 3.5 mm Textured Steel Jewelry Chain

I used a lot of this. I love working with chain lately. This was a bit difficult to cut with my regular flush cutters and I had to move up to my electrician’s cutters. I think the texture is a lot of fun.

60 Pieces 4mm Corrugated Spacer Beads

I used a few of these in a necklace this month but I have a lot left over.  These will be good accents between gemstone beads. I like the texture and detailing, as well.

2 Pieces Gold-Plated Brass Lobster Claw Clasps

I made two necklaces this month so both of these have been used. They were a particularly appropriate size for use with the chain, and of course, the color matched.

6 Pieces 10 mm Dzi-Style Etched Agate Round Gemstone Beads

Back in my early beading days, I was obsessed with Dzi-style beads so these are a fun reminder of those days. I haven’t used them yet but I’ll bet if I dig back through the older parts of my stash (I’ve been collecting beads for 20 years), I’ll find a lot that coordinates with these. (Dzi beads are an ancient style of bead from Asia, especially popular in Tibet, but these are, of course, modern reproductions.)

10 Pieces 10 x 7 mm Chinese Crystal Puffed Coins in Peach Shimmer

You’ll always get some Chinese crystal in Bargain Bead Box. I love coin and disc-shaped beads so these were right up my alley. I used nine of them in a necklace this month (see below).

30 Pieces 6.5 mm Scalloped Bead Caps

The bead caps this month coordinate perfectly with the chain and especially the corrugated spacers. I never used to use bead caps before this subscription and now I do all the time – they can really change the look of a piece!

100+ Piece Strand of 4mm Chinese Crystal Bicones in Deep Emerald

I’ve been hoarding 4mm rounds, firepolished beads, and bicones lately. They are super useful in patterns along with Czech shaped beads. I don’t have any bicones in this color, so these are appreciated.

Bonus cat hair…Angus likes to run across my work area.

6 Pieces 13 mm Fancy 4-Loop Links

I loved these and used every last one of them in a necklace (see below). I am going to be on the lookout for more of these, actually, as I had a lot of ideas for similar findings.

32 Pieces 6mm Unakite Round Gemstone Beads

Another throwback type of bead for me – one of the first semiprecious stones I was fascinated with in college was unakite. It was in my price range but I loved the pink and green coloration, too. I used a lot of these in a necklace this month.

50 Pieces 4mm Cherry “Quartz” Specialty Glass Faceted Rounds

Cherry quartz is colored glass rather than actual quartz. But, regardless, these are 4mm rounds and they will be super useful to me in patterns.

48 Pieces 4mm Chinese Crystal Rounds in Metallic Peach

These came out looking a little blurry in the photo because of the variegated colors (they’re not *just* metallic peach, but have a little more going on than that). I used some of these in a necklace; I thought they looked nice with the Chinese crystal coins.

49.5 mm Intricate Filigree-Style Pendant

You’ll usually get a couple of centerpieces or focals in this subscription. This month was this gold-toned pendant. This is a bit big for my taste, but I like the look quite a lot, so I’m going to figure out a way to use it. I just haven’t had the right idea yet.

32 mm Carved Autumn Jasper Gemstone Leaf Bead

If the first pendant is a bit too large for you, this one may be more to your taste. It is nice and simple and would look good with a thin chain and a few coordinating semiprecious rounds, I think.

13” Strand 6mm Round Glass Beads

Second only to 4mm glass is 6mm glass for me. This purple will also work great in a lot of patterns I’ve been wanting to try and you get quite a lot of these to work with.

Here is a Y-necklace I made using some of the unakite beads and a fair amount of the chain. I have a couple of green dresses this will go great with.

And here is a choker-length necklace I made with some of the peach glass and crystal and the links, the goldtone rounds, and more of the chain (the round gold beads with loops are from my stash).

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. But, if I counted correctly, you’re paying slightly more than $1 per item, and I think if you could find these exact beads for sale elsewhere, you’d pay a lot more than $1 each. I thought the gold-toned findings and chain went really well with this month’s colors and all I really had to add were some jump rings and eyepins to make a couple of necklaces that go with several different items in my wardrobe. (Fall colors are totally my thing.)

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