Darn Good Beads Review – Tiger Eye Elephant and Owl Bracelets

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!

In addition to their Bead of the Month Club, Darn Good Yarn also offers a Yarn of the Month Club, Fabric of the Month Club, and Sock of the Month Club.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (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: $20/month plus shipping

COUPON: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.

The Products: Materials and instructions to complete one beading/jewelry making project.

Ships to: The continental U.S. for $4; Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. territories, and international for $13

Darn Good Beads of the Month Tiger Eye Elephant and Owl Bracelets Review

I’ve been receiving Darn Good Beads of the Month for quite a while now. I expect to 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.

Every box comes with an instruction booklet. This one was pretty complete. I didn’t notice any errors, although I didn’t read all the instructions in detail because it wasn’t really necessary to do so to complete the projects. The booklet also contains information about some of their other subscriptions.

Tiger Eye Elephant and Owl Bracelets

There’s not much to go over in terms of the process. The first bracelet is just strung beads on a stretchy cord. For the second and third bracelets, you also add a jump ring to a charm. There were instructions for making the bracelets shorter (basically, use fewer beads) although no instructions for making them longer (and there weren’t leftover beads) although I suspect these will fit most people due to the stretchiness.

I will talk a bit about materials here. The tiger eye appeared to be genuine (it’s not an expensive stone and not really worth faking). I don’t know what the “red stone” is and it wasn’t given a specific name in the booklet. The charms had nice plating. I really like the stretchy cord, it is a little different from most clear stretchy cord and I find that it ties very nicely, especially if you really stretch it as you tie (and make multiple knots).

It is not worth knotting the thread as the instructions say before beginning because the knot will not be big enough to keep the beads from sliding off the thread. Just do most of your work on a horizontal surface and you’ll be fine. Also, I really do not like the “tool” provided for stringing the beads. A twisted wire needle or even a dental floss threader would be better. However, none of these are actually needed; I just strung the beads on the cord as it was. The bead holes are big enough that you can hide the knot inside one of the beads. I don’t think glue is needed here, either.

You will need scissors (any old household scissors should do) and two pairs of jewelry pliers or a jump ring tool to complete this project and that’s it.

Here are the finished bracelets:

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Darn Good Beads of the Month because the materials were unbranded/not labeled. I liked this month’s project. I am always happy getting gemstone beads and it was super easy and quick to complete without any frustration or confusing directions (and minimal tools required!). These would be good for casual wear and although I might not necessarily have chosen these two colors of gemstones to go together, I kind of like how each bracelet was a slight variation on the two others, which really worked to make them a set.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you’ll most likely receive the February box. More from Darn Good Beads:

If you place your order by the 1st, then your box will ship on the 20th (or the next business day during weekends). If you place your order after the 1st, then your box will ship the next month.

COUPON: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.

Check out my past reviews of Darn Good Beads of the Month and see the Craft Subscription Box List 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 Tiger Eye Elephant and Owl Bracelets from Darn Good Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?