Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – January 2021

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly DIY subscription promising over $50 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.)

About Bargain Bead Box

The Subscription Box: Bargain Bead Box

The Cost: $17.95 per month

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: The U.S. for free, Canada for $3.50, and worldwide for a low cost. Contact Bargain Bead Box for affordable international rates.

Bargain Bead Box January 2021 "Roses are Pink" Review

Bargain Bead Box always includes a few clasps and other findings in matching metal tones; this month they were in a rose gold finish (you get rose gold about once a year).

Here’s more about the specific items in the box this month:

Previous

2 of 2

1 of 2

2 of 2

1 of 2

2 of 2

Next

• 1
• 2

There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme. The back contained a list of the month’s beads. I just want to say that I really like how they're now indicating whether items are lead-free (all the metals are) or nickel-free (most of the metals are).

A note on prices: Items like this can come from a variety of different suppliers at many price points depending on how many you buy, etc. I couldn’t find a lot of these exact beads from common sources (e.g., Fire Mountain Gems) and it’s of questionable value to pick something similar because even a slight difference in grading or size or material could result in half or double the price (or an even greater difference). Even different colors of the same size and shape of glass beads are priced differently due to the materials needed to make the colors.

5g Bag of 21 Gauge 6mm Steel Jump Rings

Rose gold is a little bit uncommon for a metal tone finish when it comes to handmade jewelry, so I like that Bargain Bead Box sends you basics like jump rings when they send rose gold findings. (I have some rose gold findings saved up because of the rose gold month from past years of this subscription but it’s always nice to get more.) These will come in handy for sure. (Please note they are plated steel so you may want to use nylon jaw pliers to keep from marring the finish.)

2 Pieces 36x29mm Scrolled Chandelier Findings

If you are into big earrings these will make some great ones. If you prefer your jewelry to be a bit more understated, these could instead be used as pendant findings. (Or if you don’t have any rose gold earring hooks, they could work as pendants. In a pinch you could use bright copper instead – rose gold is the color it is, because of copper content in the alloy.)

10.5” Strand 6mm Crystal Bicone Beads, Vintage Peach

You’ll always get some Chinese crystal in Bargain Bead Box; this month it is some pink bicones. I don’t see too many calls for 6mm bicones in patterns although they are wonderful in strung designs (this is really more of a bead stringing kind of subscription than a beadweaving subscription).

15' Strand 6mm Rose Quartz Round Gemstone Beads

You’ll also usually get some gemstone beads in this subscription, and I’d say they’ve really increased the number of gemstone items in the past year. Naturally there is a lot of rose quartz this month. 6mm rounds are a good size for me and these will be nice in a strung design with some other 6mm round gemstones.

7.5" Strand 8x6mm Crystal Rondelle Beads, Pink Jade AB

Here’s more Chinese crystal, this time in a rondelle shape. I love how everything in this box is pink, but we are seeing all the different shades of pink out there -- these are different from everything else in being a little more opaque while still retaining a light color.

1m 3mm Steel Rolo Jewelry Chain, Rose Gold Finish

You’ll usually get chain in this subscription, not 100% of the time but probably 95% of the time. It’s lovely how the metal tones of all the items always match; it makes designing easier. Rolo chain is one of my preferred styles, too. Because this is steel, you shouldn’t use your regular wire cutters as it may mar the tools.

3 Sets 20.5mm Hook-and-Eye Clasps

You’ll get clasps most months with this subscription. These are large enough that I think they’d be more suited for necklaces (I don’t think a hook and eye clasp would work well in a bracelet). Usually we get toggles, so it’s nice to see a different style every now and then.

10g Bag of 18x13mm Floral Medallion Links

You’ll also usually receive some harms or links. I’ve been really into links lately so I was happy to see these. I used one in a bracelet but I have a lot left – still trying to decide on a project for them.

51mm Filigree Scrolled Medallion Focal

A month of this subscription rarely goes by without a really big pendant. I’m not sure whether I will leave this one as-is or try to embellish it with beads (I’m kind of obsessed with the idea of beading on filigrees lately).

25 Pieces 20mm Brass Headpin with 1.5mm Ball, Rose Gold Finish

Here is another handy supply. Headpins are always useful and I’ve always been a fan of the ones with ball tips. If you are looking to make some chandelier earrings these will certainly come in handy.

10g Bag of 4mm Swirled Rondelle Spacer Beads

Metal spacers are another mainstay of this subscription. I used a fair number of these in a bracelet this month but so many were provided that I still have a lot left over to use in other projects. These have a fairly wide hole and could probably even be strung on 0.5mm leather if you are so inclined.

10pc Strand of 10mm Dyed Quartz Gemstone Beads, Frosted Coral

This is one of the brightest items for the month. I’m not sure what type of quartz this is (possibly a matte rock crystal) but it seems to take the dye well. You may want to seal these if you plan on using it in a piece that will come into contact with light-colored clothing, and you may also want to avoid getting these wet. However, they did not transfer any color to the plastic baggie they were in, which is a good initial sign.

7" Strand 3.5mm Finely Faceted Rhodonite Gemstone Beads

Tiny gemstones are used in a lot of designs in bead company promo emails so I guess they are in? I took my inspiration for this month’s project from one such email. I used all of these, actually, and then ordered a bunch of other gemstones from a favorite online bead store to try a few more things

7.5” Strand 8mm Rose Quartz Round Gemstone Beads

Here are some larger rose quartz beads. I have quite a lot of rose quartz in my stash already because it’s one of the more affordable gemstones and it’s readily available in a lot of shapes. So these will fit right in. (I like all the different sizes of gemstone rounds this month, they make for some nice possibilities for graduated strands if you want to go that route.)

10pc 8.5mm Pressed Glass Flower Beads, Magenta

We’re starting to see a bit more Czech glass in Bargain Bead Box and I’m happy about that – I’m a Czech glass fan from way back (in fact, I collect vintage and antique Bohemian art glass, but also Czech glass beads…) and I like the bold color in these.

10 Pc 9mm Cutout Round Bead Caps, Rose Gold Finish

Bead caps are another Bargain Bead Box mainstay and this is one type of finding I really did not have in rose gold (I had thought to buy jump rings, clasps, headpins, eyepins, etc., but not bead caps) so these are great, especially if I want to do some stringing and want to change up the look along the strand.

7.5” Strand 4x3mm Crystal Rondelle Beads, Almond Bisque Luster

Here are some very small rondelles that I also used in my bracelet this month. I find that I tend to stick to one size range when working, so I often either make something delicate or something bulky, and this month I went more for delicate, so it was nice to have a lot of small beads to choose from.

35-37mm Hand Carved Rose Quartz Gemstone Pendant

Here is a second pendant that’s a little smaller in size than the first pendant. You could go really simple with this and just draw focus to the carving or do something more elaborate. I’ve been wanting to do more with carved gemstones but the last batch I bought were a lot bigger than expected and are probably going to be used in wall hangings (like with embroidery and Chinese knotwork) instead of jewelry. This one, however, is a suitable size for a necklace.

2 Pieces 13-14mm Hand Carved Rose Quartz Gemstone Flower Beads

Here are a couple of smaller carved rose quartz beads. I used these in my bracelet this month, which you can see below.

Previous

6 of 6

1 of 6

2 of 6

3 of 6

4 of 6

5 of 6

6 of 6

1 of 6

2 of 6

3 of 6

4 of 6

5 of 6

6 of 6

Next

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

I just did a simple stringing project this month. I used some tigertail from a past Bargain Bead Box and some antique copper crimps I already had (it was the closest match…). I also opted for a different clasp than the ones in the package since I was making a bracelet. Going back, if I had some copper or rose gold knot covers, I might’ve used silk thread to string this instead of tigertail, as I think it wouldn’t be so stiff. Well, live and learn. (And find some knot covers.)

Here is the finished bracelet:

Previous

2 of 2

1 of 2

2 of 2

1 of 2

2 of 2

Next

• 1
• 2

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above, but I was definitely happy with this month’s offering. This was a fun month from Bargain Bead Box. I loved getting all the gemstones and I think the pairing of rose gold and pink was interesting, and probably not something I would have thought of on my own. It was also thoughtful of the folks at Bargain Bead Box to include jump rings and headpins, as not everyone will have a full set of findings in a rose gold finish (I didn’t until after my very first rose gold Bargain Bead Box a few years ago). I was also very happy to see a bunch of tiny beads as I’d been wanting to play around with small gemstone and crystals in a stringing project for awhile and I got to because of this subscription box.

Please note that no directions are given and you usually have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, etc., and come up with your own project(s) with this box.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you would receive the February 2021 box (if you signed up before the 9th) or the March 2021 box as your first one (if you signed up now), although they do sometimes offer past boxes on their site, and individual items can sometimes be purchased from Bead Box Bargains.

Value Breakdown: At $17.95 for this subscription, you are paying about $0.94 per item.

Check out my past Bargain Bead Box reviews and 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 January 2021 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?