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 Hot and Trendy Beads of the Month, which is $22.95/month.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (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. Save a bit more with the double clubs.
The Products: 8 packages of color-coordinated beads; 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.
Good to know: I actually subscribe to several of these clubs and they all come in the same package (that’s why the box is so big). I’m going to do a rotation with these reviews so you’ll see something a little different each month. Also, please note that you can cancel or add clubs by calling, emailing, or using the contact form on their website.
Ships to: US, cost varies depending on the number of clubs subscribed to (shipping is $4.50 for one club; refer to their FAQ for shipping costs for additional clubs)
Adornable Elements Beads of the Month September 2018 "Lady Liberty" Review
With this subscription, you receive a selection of shaped beads (with 1, 3, or 4 holes; there’s a separate subscription for 2-hole beads) 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 “Lady Liberty.” I was a little worried it would be red, white, and blue stuff when I saw the information sheet, but it actually turned out to be beads in the colors of the Statue of Liberty and that is more my style.
Jet Dark Bronze Cathedral Dome Cabochons (14) – Listed Value $3
There are very few bead shapes I haven’t seen before, but this is one. I did a search and found some more of these on Etsy so I will probably order more at some point in the future. I like that these have edges with a bit more “square” to them instead of being the traditional round of other cabochon-style beads.
Green Turquoise Matte Feather Etched Daggers (24) – Listed Value $5.75
Laser etched beads are fun – you get some great patterns. I ended up using a lot of these in a way that kind of looks like flower petals, but they could also work as feather elements. (I have also seen 2-hole tile, kite, and honeycomb beads with laser etching.)
White Travertine Mushroom (6mm, 28 count) – Listed Value $2.25
I only recently discovered these beads come in different sizes. But anyway, although I didn’t use these beads this month, I have quite a few beads in matching travertine (aka Picasso) finishes that can be used with these.
Jade O Beas (6.25 g) – Listed Value $5
Beading magazines have a lot of patterns with O beads so although I didn’t use these yet, I have a stack of possibilities at home. It shouldn’t be too hard for me to find matching beads in my stash as this is a color I tend to gravitate towards.
Green Turquoise Pellets (48) – Listed Value $3.50
These were curved in such a way that they nested really nicely with the Tee beads (see below). Sometimes these are also called “peg beads” or even “diabolo beads,” although I really have no idea where that last one comes from. I used a few this month in a pendant.
Jet Dark Bronze Petals (8 x 7mm, 40 count) – Listed Value $2.75
This is another bead that comes in two sizes, but I knew that already. This is the smaller of the two sizes. Sometimes these are also called “rose petals.” I need to find some patterns for these because I have a whole lot of them in different colors including some really obnoxious bright ones (like yellow/orange mixed). As you might expect, these are often used as flower petals in designs.
White Opal Matte Rizos (7.5g) – Listed Value $2
Rizo beads are one-hole beads where the hole is off-center (at one end). These are meant to be rice-shaped and I have to say, this color looks more like rice than any others I have ever seen. I haven’t used these yet but these will go with just a ton of things in my collection so they’ve been added to my stash for now.
Jet Dark Bronze Tee Beads (24) – Listed Value $2.25
I have some Tee beads but haven’t ever used them in anything before. I noticed they have a curvature that looked like it would fit with the pellet beads, and it did, so I made a ring from them as part of a bezel for a rivoli, which you can see below.
I tried making up my own pattern this month. I used the Tee beads and the pellet beads for the front of the bezel and some 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads on the back, as well as making it into a sort of flower using the daggers. That’s a rivoli of unknown size (maybe 10mm), I think one of the Potomac Bead-branded crystal rivolis, but it kind of doesn’t show up very well. Maybe in a different color combination next time? Anyway, this ended up working out pretty well after one false start so I am happy.
Verdict: I calculated a value for the September 2018 Hot and Trendy Beads of the Month Club of $26.50. This is a little below the cost of the box plus shipping, but I subscribe to multiple clubs so I save a bit on shipping (you can also get the double clubs, which cost the same to ship as the single clubs and save a bit more). I liked all the colors this month and had fun putting beads together to make up my own pendant design.
More importantly, I really, really love some of the popular shaped beads, and they can be expensive. There are so many great patterns coming out with these beads lately and it’s nice to receive 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 and I’m good to go with lots of different patterns.
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I 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 $27.45 (including shipping) for this box, you are paying about $3.43 per item.
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What did you think of the September 2018 Hot and Trendy Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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