Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Club Review – October 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 11/0 Seed Beads of the Month, which is $17.95 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 11/0 Seed Beads of the Month, which is $17.95/month for 12.5 grams of each of 8 different size 11/0 Miyuki seed 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 “Tea Rose.”  (For what it’s worth, I really think the colors fit the themes and go together nicely with these subscriptions.)

During your first month, and every three months afterward, you’ll receive a plastic storage case. You can store a couple of months’ worth of sample containers in these (although I transfer my beads to Elizabeth Ward Bead Storage Solutions trays and use the plastic cases to store other things).

This month, there was an insert in the package for “Bags of Gold,” which are mystery bags of products that could be from any of the Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Clubs. Of course, signed up for a few – I don’t think you end up with 45 or 50 subscriptions a month if you don’t love mystery bags. (Yes, I really get that many boxes every month…)

11/0 Seed Beads in Dyed Blush Silver-Lined Alabaster – Value $2.25

I like the way the silver lining shows through these a little bit. I think these would be great in an otherwise silver, clear, and/or white piece for just a little hint of color.

11/0 Seed Beads in Duracoat Galvanized Dark Sea Foam – Value $3.75

I like shiny things so the Duracoat galvanized finish is one of my favorites. This green color is a pretty cool variation that I don’t already have in my collection.

11/0 Seed Beads in Lime Lined Crystal AB – Value $2.25

These have a lot going on. They almost remind me of all the colors you see when there is a bit of motor oil in a puddle of water in a parking lot (and I mean that in a good way!).

11/0 Seed Beads in Light Mint Green Lined Crystal AB – Value $2.25

These are pretty light colored and don’t stand out a lot against some of the darker colors this month. But there are definitely ways to use that to your advantage when choosing colors for a project.

11/0 Seed Beads in Salmon Ceylon – Value $2

This is a great color for spring or floral designs, but it’s dark enough and has enough of a hint of orange that it works for late summer, too.

11/0 Seed Beads in Matte Opaque Sea Foam Luster – Value $3.50

I wouldn’t have expected it, but these actually stood out as much as the galvanized beads in the bracelet I made this month. I think I don’t often work with opaque beads so I’m just not used to the effect they have on a project.

11/0 Seed Beads in Light Shell Pink Gold Luster – Value $2.25

I have been experimenting with adding pink beads to projects with a lot of copper lately and these will be perfect for something I have in mind with some thin (28 gauge) wire.

11/0 Seed Beads in Transparent Light Tea Rose – Value $2

Here are some more matte beads, and the namesake of the theme for the month. I find it is best to use matte-finished beads in projects that don’t have to move and flow as much, because they don’t slide as neatly past one another as beads with more of a shine to them. That still leaves open a lot of possibilities, though.

I was really itching to do some peyote stitch this month, so I made this ombre bracelet with the green shades. (I have a lot of green items in my wardrobe.) I am probably going to go back at some point and do the same thing with the pink ones. (I love seed beading, but it takes SO MUCH TIME that I usually do something pretty simple for this review.) I used some of the clear, 4-lb test Fireline for stringing material and a magnetic clasp I already had on hand.

Verdict: I calculated a value for the October 2017 11/0 Seed Beads of the Month club of $20.25. That is a little bit under the cost of the subscription plus shipping. (It’s a savings of $2.30 over the listed retail price of the beads, but shipping is $4.50 for one club.) You can get a better deal by subscribing to multiple clubs (there’s a shipping discount) and/or the double clubs, since a double club counts the same as a single when it comes to shipping. (Plus, who doesn’t want MORE beads?)

Once again, the colors went well together. This is one of the best bead subscriptions if you are into color themes (I think so, anyway). I like getting a variety of finishes and coatings, as there is usually at least one that is new or different even for me, and it gets me to consider color and finish possibilities that I might not have chosen on my own. You pretty much always know what to expect with this subscription, but as I’ve said many times before, I like seed beads a lot, so I am always happy to get my box and see what is in there.

What did you think of the October 2017 11/0 Seed Beads of the Month club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?