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Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – April 2019

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyMay 13, 2019 | 10 comments

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Envelope

Bargain Bead Box
5 overall rating
10 Ratings | 2 Reviews

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly DIY 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.)

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Organza Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Review

About Bargain Bead Box

The Subscription Box: Bargain Bead Box

The Cost: $15.95

The Products: Designer quality beads in materials ranging from crystal to glass to semiprecious gemstones, plus metal beads and findings.  Bargain Bead Box does not send any plastic beads or seed beads.

Ships to: US (free), Canada for $7.50

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 “Relic” Review

Bargain Bead box always includes a few clasps and other findings in matching metal tones; this month they were in an antique silver finish. Here’s more about the specific items in the box this month:

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Booklet Front Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Booklet Back

There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme (“Relic”). The back contained a list of the month’s beads.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Agate

7.5” Strand 8mm Faceted Agate Round Beads

You’ll usually receive a few semi-precious stones with this subscription. These agate beads come in nice, earthy colors. I used a few of these in my necklace this month (see below).

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Bead Caps

15 Pieces 8mm Bead Caps

You’ll also usually receive bead caps. Whatever chain, findings, etc. are supplied are all in the same color so it is easy to put a piece of jewelry together with minimal extra bits (I used some headpins and jump rings from my stash). I used a handful of these in my project this month.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Ceramic Ovals

4 Pieces 16 x 11mm Ceramic Oval Beads

I think the finish on these is pretty cool; these sort of mottled colors have appealed to me lately. I think these have large enough holes to be incorporated into a macramé bracelet (which is often my first idea when receiving ceramic and/or large-hole beads).

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Chain

1m 4mm Steel Curb Chain

You’ll receive chain most months as well. It is almost always plated steel chain. What that means for you is that you should use a heavy-duty wire cutter to cut lengths of chain because, this being steel, you would likely damage your regular wire cutters. I used a bit of this chain this month but I have plenty left.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Chandelier

3 Pieces 13 x 16mm 3 Strand Chandelier Links

These definitely spoke to me this month. I spent a few days trying to figure out exactly how to use them, and I changed my mind a few times. In the end, I used two of them to go from 3 strands to 1 and I think it worked well.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Copper Rondelles

16” Strand 4 x 3mm Electroplated Chinese Crystal Beads, Copper Topaz

Chinese crystal in a variety of shapes, sizes, and finishes is common in Bargain Bead Box. It has a lot of sparkle without being quite so precisely machined as is the case with Swarovski. I used some of these in my necklace this month (I used more beads from the box in this month’s piece than I think I ever have before).

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Copper Rounds

40 Pieces 6mm Half Matte Electroplated Glass Barrel Beads, Copper

These are fun. They have one shiny strip around the middle and are matte elsewhere. They have a not-quite-spherical shape. You guessed it – I used some of these in my necklace as well.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Dzi

2 Pieces 38mm Dzi-Style Agate Oval Beads

These are big and heavy. The information sheet says they are permanently dyed and heat-treated; however, some color did rub off in the baggie that held them, so do be careful. I am thinking I need to do some wire wrapping with these because they are a bit too heavy for several other uses that have occurred to me so far.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Glass Rounds

10.5” Strand 6mm Glass Round Beads, Teal

It’s actually pretty rare to get glass rounds in this subscription. These are a good size for beadweaving patterns and that’s probably how I’ll end up using them.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Large Crystals

8 Pieces 12mm Chinese Crystal Fancy Round Beads, Steel Peacock

I like the faceting pattern here, which is easy to see in the image. This is a different pattern from similarly-sized beads (hey, this is something I care about!). I am challenging myself lately to use larger beads and these will fit the bill nicely.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Links

10 Pieces 10 x 5mm Round Links

These are quite small and thus appropriate for small earrings and bracelets. I have some ideas on how to use them that I can put into action once I find some better quality eye pins than the ones I currently have in my collection.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Matte Faceted Rondelles

48 Pieces 6 x 4mm Matte Electroplated Chinese Crystal Rondelles, Green Iris

Here is yet more Chinese crystal. I guess I had never thought about this before, but there are some Chinese crystal beads with matte finishes. I used some of these in my necklace.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Pendant

39mm Chevron Pendant

You’ll often get one or two large pendants in this subscription. This one is subdued. I have some ideas on how to add this to a boho type of design with some other metal elements.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Smooth Rondelles

10” Strand 8mm Green Glass Rondelle Beads

Smooth Rondelles are hard to come by but really good as spacer beads. See how I used some of these below (I still have a lot of these left to try other things with – I think I want to see how they look with brass).

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Spacers

24 Pieces 9 x 5mm Embossed Tab Spacer Beads

These had big holes but the holes were partially or completely blocked in all but six of the beads. I picked out the best ones and used them to (partially) cover knots, but a lot of these will require a drill. Since it is hard metal I don’t think most bead reamers would work.

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Toggles

2 Sets Embellished Triangle Clasps

You’ll always receive clasps with this subscription. I used one of these as a focal piece in a necklace and I think it turned out well, you can see it below. They are visually interesting and deserve not to be hidden behind my hair!

Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Neckace 1 Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Necklace 2 Bargain Bead Box April 2019 - Necklce 3

Here is a necklace I made with quite a few beads in the box. I think the clasp-as-focal idea might’ve worked a bit better with a round clasp, but I wanted to use what was in the box. I spent a long time on this but I think it turned out well.

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. The information sheet gives a retail value of about $54 and I can believe that value if you were to go out looking for similar beads to purchase individually. There is definitely enough here to make several pieces of jewelry, too. Looking at it another way, you are paying just about $1 per item since the price is $15.95 and there were 16 items this month. And THAT is a pretty good deal.

Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, etc.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you would receive the May 2019 box as your first one, although they do sometimes offer past boxes on their site, and individual items can sometimes be purchased from Bead Box Bargains.

Value Breakdown: At $15.95 for this subscription, you are paying about $1 per item.

Check out my past reviews of Bargain Bead Box or see more of our arts and 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 April 2019 Bargain Bead Box?  Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?

Starting at $19.49
Subscribe Now

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly subscription box for bead lovers and jewelry designers. Each shipment includes over $40 worth of glass, gemstone, crystal, and/or metal beads & findings for $17.95 per month, curated around a surprise theme.

Ragan Buckley
Ragan Buckley
Ragan stumbled across My Subscription Addiction in late 2013 and immediately subscribed to way too many beauty boxes. She's now focused on boxes for her cats and dog, vegan/vegetarian food boxes, and craft subscriptions (and she didn't give up beauty boxes entirely).

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10 comments

Marian

Hi,
Have you stopped posting the pictures each month? I really liked seeing them and what you made from the items in each month’s box.

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Virginia

Love the colors in the necklace and the unique three strand in the back. Shame it will not always be seen.

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Cindy

I think that necklace looks perfect with the triangular clasp actually!

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Nicole

I just looked on their website and it says the monthly cost is $17.95? Had it gone up? Or is there a coupon available?

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Ragan

I think it has gone up. I wrote this review a few weeks ago.

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Becca

The necklace you have created is gorgeous! 😍 and I love the triangular clasp! You did a such a great job!

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Jack

Ragan! Your beading reviews are some of my favorite on MSA! I always look forward to seeing what you make. 🙂 I think this necklace is awesome!!

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Ragan

Thanks. I wrote FIVE over the weekend so look for those coming up, too.

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Joan

Again you have created such a beautiful necklace from the beads. It may be the lighting, but it looks like the beads are darker and may have been a better match for fall/winter.

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Ragan

The room I have to take photos in is pretty dark at most times of day, unfortunately. But I do agree, the antique copper color especially reminds me of fall.

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