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 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 +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 $4.50 for one club; refer to their FAQ for shipping costs for additional clubs)
Adornable Elements Beads of the Month November 2018 “Paris Pink” 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 “Paris Pink.” (For what it’s worth, I really think the colors fit the themes and go together nicely with these subscriptions.)
Gunmetal Crescents (6.25g) – Listed Value $2.50
I have a go-to pattern with crescent beads and Kheops Par Puca (see below) but I wanted to branch out a bit so I used these in a different way (see below). I used all of them but one (!).
White Luster Groovy Tiles (40) – Listed Value $3
Groovy tiles are like tiles but with a groove down the middle. They can be used interchangeably with tiles. I actually did use some of these but they are more on the inside of the bracelet band (see below).
Gunmetal Kites (7.5g) – Listed Value $2.50
Kite beads are diamonds but with only bilateral symmetry across their long axis. These match the crescents exactly. I haven’t used them yet but this is a good, relatively neutral color, that will match a lot of other items in my stash.
Pastel Pink Lentils (50) – Listed Value $4.50
This month’s theme was “Paris Pink” and here are our first pink beads. I didn’t actually use that much pink this month, because of course the beads have to fit together into some shape and so I tend to go for bead types first, rather than colors if that makes sense (at least insofar as these subscription box reviews are concerned). Anyway, I’ve bought a lot of pink lately so these will match quite a bit in my stash.
White Luster Honeycombs (30) – Listed Value $2.50
Honeycombs are about what you’d expect – hexagonal glass beads with two holes. They are roughly 6mm in diameter and can, in some cases, be substituted for tiles or 6mm cabochons. These match the groovy tiles pretty well.
Pastel Pink Silky (20) – Listed Value $3.25
Silky beads are squares, but the holes are drilled parallel to the long axis rather than parallel to the edges, so if you are looking at one of these next to a tile bead, it will appear rotated by 45 degrees. These also have some surface texture that the tile beads don’t typically have. These match the lentils and the Kheops Par Puca beads (see below).
Pastel Pink Kheops Par Puca (7.5g) – Listed Value $4.75
Kheops Par Puca beads must be very popular with the curators of this subscription because they appear frequently. However, they seem to be a popular bead for patterns so I am not sorry to get more. I tend to rely on these a lot, so I didn’t use them this time (to force myself to think outside the box a bit).
Backlit Pink Mist Baroque Cabochon (6.25g) – Listed Value $2.75
Backlit beads are pretty cool, I think. They are mostly clear but you can see through the clear to the bottom, which has iridescent colors (other finishes besides pink mist are available, and Gemduos and some larger, undrilled cabochons also come with this look). I used some of these in a bracelet this month and you can see them up close in the third bracelet picture below.
Here is a bracelet I made using the groovy tiles, the crescents, and the baroque cabochons, as well as a few firepolished rounds from my stash. This was modeled after something I saw on Etsy, but I didn’t buy the pattern, just guessed, and it doesn’t quite have the stiffness/shape/thread tension I wanted, probably because the pictures on Etsy didn’t show the back of the piece (well, and because it used different beads). But, not bad for guessing.
Verdict: I calculated a value for the November 2018 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club of $25.75. This is exactly the cost of the box plus 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 enjoyed the opportunity to try to design my own pattern after looking for inspiration online.
More importantly, I really, really love 2-hole beads, and they can be expensive. 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 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 $25.75 (including shipping) for this box, you are paying about $3.22 per item.
Check out all of our Adornable Element Beads of the Month Reviews and more great beading, craft supply, and DIY project boxes in the Craft Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the November 2018 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.