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 Single 2-Hole Beads of the Month, which is $22.95/month.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (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 +shipping. Save with the double clubs.
The Products: 8 different types of color-coordinated 2-hole Japanese and/or Czech shaped beads
Note: I actually subscribe to several of these clubs and they all come in the same package (that’s why the package is so big). 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 $4.75 for one club; refer to their FAQ for shipping costs for additional clubs)
Adornable Elements Beads of the Month May 2019 “Sylvan Woods” 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 “Sylvan Woods” (sometimes there is a holiday theme but not always) and there were a lot of greens and browns.
Jet Bronze Luster Amos Par Puca (6.2g) – Listed Value $3.50
Sorry about the cat hair; Angus walks all over my table when I am not around. Anyway, these are 2-hole beads called Amos Par Puca (most of the Par Puca beads are named after Greek islands, for what it’s worth). Jet bronze luster refers to a bronze coating over a pure black (jet) bead. These are good if you want a bit of a metallic look and the color really works well with a lot of color schemes.
Pastel Olivine Gemduo (6.2g) – Listed Value $3
There are two types of 2-hole diamond-shaped beads: diamonduos and gemduos, and they can be used interchangeably, although there are some subtle differences in shape and they are available in different colors and finishes. Anyway, the pattern I wanted to use this month called for gemduos so you will see these in the earrings I made below.
Chalk Dark Travertine Ginko (7.5g) – Listed Value $2.75
Ginko beads are pretty new to the market; they are from Matubo and were just introduced this year. I recently learned that travertine is allegedly not the same as Picasso finish, and now that I look at examples of both, I can kind of see it. Although you really have to study it to see the difference so they can be used interchangeably. Anyway, the pattern I wanted to use called for ginko beads so you will see these in my earrings below, as well. (I know “ginko” is not how you spell the tree, but the spelling difference is handy for searching these beads and actually finding them instead of something else.)
Pastel Olivine Miniduo (7.5g) – Listed Value $3
Miniduos are handy to have around; a lot of patterns call for them and sometimes they can be used instead of Preciosa Twin beads, which have a similar shape and size (like in this bracelet). These go well with the color palette I’ve been working with lately so I already have a lot of color-coordinating beads in my stash.
Light Green Luster Paros Par Puca (6.2g) – Listed Value $4
Paros Par Puca are fairly new to market. The designer of these beads has an Etsy shop where she sells patterns for the beads she’s created so if you’re ever looking for an idea on how to use them, try looking there. These have the shape of an elongated hexagon and two parallel holes.
Light Green Luster Samos Par Puca (6.2g) – Listed Value $4
Samos Par Puca are also fairly new. They are elongated ovals and they come in quite a few finishes. You can get them in a lot of colors at Queen City Bead. You will find patterns for these in the Etsy shop linked to in the Paros Par Puca section. These two types can’t be used interchangeably due to slightly different hole orientation relative to the long axis of the bead.
Chalk Travertine Silky (20) – Listed Value $2.25
Silky beads are squares but with the holes running at a 45 degree angle from the sides. They come with quite a few surface features, with a smooth raised area like these, or table cut for a flat part on top, or even totally flat (look for “silky plane” beads from Czech sources if you want those). I have no idea where the name came from. I went rather nuts buying travertine and Picasso beads a few years ago so I have a lot that will go with these.
Jet Bronze Luster Triangles (7.5g) – Listed Value $3.25
2-Hole triangles are from Czechmates, a system of a handful of different types of beads with the same spacing between the two holes (there are also 2-hole lentils, 2-hole diamonds, crescents, etc., etc.) so they can be easily used together. I have seen these used as flower petal elements (like here, although please note I think this pattern is a bit expensive for one pattern and I haven’t tried it so I can’t say how easy it is to follow).
I bought an earring pattern on Etsy the day before I received this shipment and crossed my fingers that I’d be able to make it and what do you know, but the shipment contained both of the two-hole beads I needed (ginkos and gemduos)? As an extra bonus,I found two 14mm rivolis in the same color in my stash (and a color that actually went with the beads from the shipment, at that). Seed beads and glass rounds were no trouble as my stash is spilling out of two rooms at this point. I need to work on my thread tension a bit (probably Fireline isn’t flexible enough for this pattern) but overall I’m happy with how these turned out. (FYI the pattern isn’t available in English but I worked it out by copy-pasting longer sections of text into Google Translate.)
Verdict: I calculated a value of $25.75 for the May 2019 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club. This is just shy of the $22.95 a month cost of the box plus $4.75 shipping. (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 get a little more value 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 lucked out that the pattern I picked out in advance worked with the beads from this shipment.
More importantly, I really, really love 2-hole beads, and they can be expensive depending on the type and finish. 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 or basics like rivolis and 3mm or 4mm rounds and I’m good to go with lots of different patterns.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you 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 $27.70 (including shipping) for this box, you are paying about $3.46 per item.
Check out my past reviews of Adornable Elements Beads of the Month and see the Craft Subscription Box list and best arts & crafts boxes 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 May 2019 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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