Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Clubs are the original beading subscription boxes (they’ve been around since 2000). 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. The cost varies depending on the club selected and whether you choose the single or double club.
This is a review of the 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club, which is $22.95/month.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Club
The Subscription Box: Adornable Elements Beads of the Month Club
The Cost: $22.95/month. Save a bit more with the double clubs.
The Products: 8 different types of color-coordinated 2-hole Japanese and/or Czech shaped beads
Good to know: I actually subscribe to several of these clubs and they all come in the same package (that’s why the box is so big). I’m going to do a rotation with these reviews so you’ll see something a little different each month. Also, please note that you can cancel or add clubs by calling, emailing, or using the contact form on their website.
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)
Adornable Elements Beads of the Month August 2018 "Victorian Parlour" Review
With this subscription, you receive a selection of 2-hole beads (in case you didn’t know, these are pretty trendy right now in the beading world) in coordinating colors each month:
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 “Victorian Parlour.” (For what it’s worth, I really think the colors fit the themes and go together nicely with these subscriptions.)
Chalk Red Luster Miniduo (6.25 g) – Listed Value $2.25
Miniduos are smaller versions of superduos, which are the most popular 2-holed beads. I have done some experiments and found that miniduos often work in patterns that call for Preciosa Twins, yet another two-hole bead option. At any rate, these will find a nice home in my stash; I like to collect them in various colors so when I go to follow a pattern that calls for them, I will have something that works with the other beads I plan to use. (I have a lot of pink so these will fit right in.)
Matte Metallic Aztec Gold Lentil (48) – Listed Value $3
Lentils come in 1-, 2-, and 4-hole varieties. But this is the 2-hole beads of the month subscription, so these are the 2-hole kind. These have been around for a while so it is easy to find ideas for using them. This color is a little bit warmer than some of the other gold finishes and is great for adding a metallic touch to designs.
Chalk Red Luster Kite (7.5 g) – Listed Value $2.50
These are the same color as the miniduos, so I will have to remember that I have both if I ever run across a project that calls for both (I store shaped beads like these by type, in stacks and stacks of these storage trays; some friendly advice: don’t buy these trays until they go under $25, which is a price you will see both at Amazon and Walmart from time to time). Anyway, kite beads are 2-holed beads shaped like elongated diamonds. They are not directly substitutable for Gemduos or Diamonduos in patterns because of the subtle differences in shape. But I’ve actually seen some pretty clever designs with them.
Opaque Rose Luster Kheops par Puca (7.5 g) – Listed Value $4.25
You will get some Kheops par Puca almost every month with this subscription. (Puca is the designer’s name and there are also Ios, Arcos, Minos, Tinos, Amos, Super Kheops, and now Kos and Paros par Puca out there.) They are two-hole triangles and they are pretty versatile. Despite the name, these are more peachy than pink, but I still think they look good with the month’s other colors and I used a handful of these in a bracelet pattern.
Pastel Burgundy Half Moon (48) – Listed Value $5.50
You don’t see half moons too often in this subscription. I had the idea to use them in place of crescent beads in a pattern. I had to modify the pattern a bit because they are thicker, but they did end up working in the end. This was one of the darker colors for the month and I thought the contrast with some of the lighter colors was nice.
Backlit Pink Mist Gemduo (6.25 g) – Retail Value $2.50
Gemduos are one of the two types of regular diamond-shaped beads. There are some subtle differences between these and Diamonduos, but most of the time they can be used interchangeably. I love these backlit colors and finishes in Gemduos; they just add such depth and visual interest to a piece of jewelry.
Matte Metallic Aztec Gold Brick (48) – Listed Value $3.75
Bricks are half-sized versions of Czech tile beads and these are the same color as the lentils from up above. Anyway, they are also pretty close in size to rulla beads (just not rounded like rullas) so I wanted to see if I could substitute them in a pattern, and it seems to be working so far.
Luster Transparent Topaz Pink Bars (6.25 g) – Listed Value $2.50
Bars are fairly flat beads. I tend to see them in pendant patterns a lot, but there are quite a few design possibilities for them since they fit snugly against other beads. This transparent pink color will work well with other items in my stash.
Here is a work in progress. I raced against time to finish but it just didn’t look like I was going to be able to. This is the Variete Bracelet pattern from Amanda Nel on Etsy (honestly it’s kind of expensive, at $12, for a pattern, so I am getting as much use out of it as I can since the results are pretty nice). So anyway, here are two of the main units consisting of the half moons and Kheops par Puca beads, connected by some of the brick beads. I supplied some rose montees (the purple stones in the center) and some size 11/0 and size 15/0 seed beads, as well as a clasp that I will hopefully manage to get around to attaching later this week.
I had to modify this a little bit by adding extra seed beads around the edges since the half-moon beads are a little thicker than the crescents (see an example with crescents here). The bricks are close enough to the rullas called for by the pattern that they don’t seem to be making a big difference. This is one of those times I’m glad I have small wrists because I only had to make five of the squares instead of the seven called for in the pattern!
Verdict: I calculated a value for the August 2018 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club of $26.25. This is a little bit more than the cost of the box plus shipping, which is about standard for this subscription. (I note that many of the larger bead retailers do have free shipping starting in the $25 to $40 range, but that Fire Mountain and Etsy sellers generally charge shipping for these sorts of items.) 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. This month, I enjoyed the opportunity to play around with a past favorite pattern and see how bead substitutions worked.
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.
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? Yes, in my experience you’ll get your first shipment shortly after you sign up, and then this ships early in the month after that.
Value Breakdown: At $25.75 (including shipping) for this box, you are paying about $3.22 per item.
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!
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What did you think of the August 2018 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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