Darn Good Beads of the Month is a monthly subscription for jewelry makers from Darn Good Yarn. (You don’t have to be able to knit or crochet for this subscription!) Every month you’ll receive materials to complete a quick beading project. You will need some basic tools of your own (pliers, crimping pliers, glue) but they provide all the findings, beads, and stringing materials!
This month’s box is being reviewed thanks to an MSA reader request!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Darn Good Beads of the Month
The Subscription Box: Darn Good Beads of the Month
The Cost: $10/month + shipping
The Products: Materials and instructions to complete one beading/jewelry making project.
Ships to: US ($4/continental US) and international ($13/Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, and other countries)
Darn Good Beads of the Month December 2018 Review
I’ve been receiving Darn Good Beads of the Month for just a few months. I know I will get a simple project with instructions that will be easy to complete in under an hour or two, but the projects have been pretty varied:
The package came with this paper, which contained instructions for this month’s project.
Festive Cheer Earrings
I see this type of earring in the Fire Mountain Gems “stylish stringing” catalog around this time of year but I’ve never bought the supplies for it because Swarovski margarita beads (the flowers here) are not cheap and I don’t want like 200 pairs of the same earrings, anyway. But it was nice to receive the materials in this subscription for ONE pair.
This was a super simple project but I do have two criticisms. First, you may notice that the headpins are an antique copper finish but the earwires are a goldtone finish. It is not super noticeable, but I do wish they matched.
The other issue was a bit bigger. I started putting the margarita beads on the headpins and the largest ones slipped off – the bead hole size was bigger than the end of the headpin. As you can perhaps see, I solved the problem by putting a single 15/0 seed bead on each headpin before adding the margarita beads, and I still think they turned out all right (the headpins were longer than necessary so I didn’t run out of wire or anything). I am guessing most people with a set of jewelry pliers probably have a few seed beads around the house, but I also wonder if these headpins were not the original choice for this project due to the color mismatch?
Anyway, I am resourceful about such things and I think my earrings turned out all right.
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Darn Good Beads of the Month because the materials were unbranded/not labeled. I do feel that the physical materials provided were of good quality, except I was not a huge fan of the headpins. I don’t know if the margarita beads are genuine Swarovski crystals or not, as several other companies do make this style, as well, but if they are, that adds value to the overall package for the month.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? This was December’s box and may no longer be available. In general, you’ll get your first box at sign-up and then you’ll move to the regular shipping schedule after that.
Value Breakdown: this box costs $14 (including shipping to the continental US) and you get all the materials to make one jewelry project.
Check out all of our Darn Good Beads reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory for more great beading, craft supply, and DIY project boxes.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the December 2018 Darn Good Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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