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 February 2019 “Luck o’ the Irish” 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 “Luck o’ the Irish” (so you have time to make a few green things for St. Patrick’s Day!).
This month we received a newsletter with some updates including a postage increase effective next month.
Apparently there was a breakage issue with some of the beads from last month so they sent out an apology note and some replacement beads.
Gold Splash Olivine Honeycomb Beads (30) – Listed Value $2.75
Of course you have to have some green and gold in an Irish-themed collection, and these beads have both. The splash finish used to be limited to gold and silver but I am now seeing some copper ones as well. Deb Roberti has a lot of patterns that can use honeycomb beads, if you’re looking for a project to use these in.
Jet Green Luster Carrier Beads (7) – Listed Value $2.50
When carrier beads first came out, people were doing peyote stitch patterns with Delicas and applying them to the carrier beads. Now they’re also being used more on their own, without covering them up (especially since patterns are starting to come out with them). The February 2019 issue of Bead and Button magazine has at least one idea for what to do with these.
Crystal Amber Full AVA Beads (12) – Listed Value $5.75
AVA beads are an exclusive shape designed for Potomac Beads (although you can find them from some Etsy sellers as well because Potomac does wholesaling). I think last month was the first time we saw Potomac shapes in this subscription? I am happy to see them as I do like a lot of these shapes. (Technically AVA beads have three holes, not two, though.) If you want to know why these cost so much for so few, here is a blog post and an interesting video about how they are made.
Gold Splash Olivine GemDuo Beads (6.2g) – Listed Value $2.50
GemDuos are diamond-shaped and can be substituted for DiamonDuos in patterns since they are the same size. These have the same finish as the honeycomb beads up above. I found a pattern that called for GemDuos so I used these (link and pictures below).
Jet Green Luster Miniduos (6.2g) – Listed Value $2.25
There is a separate Superduo subscription so you won’t get Superduos here, though you will sometimes get miniduo beads, which are slightly smaller. Some of the patterns on this page call for miniduos if you are looking for a project. I really like this color (the “jet” refers to the fact that the base bead is black with a green luster coating).
Crystal Amber Full StormDuo Beads (50) – Listed Value $4.25
I also used these, this month, because I found a pattern I liked that called for them. (Like with “jet” above, “crystal” here refers to the base bead being clear with an amber coating. I sometimes see this color referred to as “dorado” but it is the same as “amber.”) I did run out so my bracelet came up a bit short, but I ordered some more so I can fix it next week.
Metallic Suede Light Green Triangles (6.2g) – Listed Value $2.75
There are so many cool finishes out these days and metallic suede is another one. I recently bought this pattern, which can be used with several different types of 2-hole beads, and I think I’m going to try it with these guys.
Metallic Suede Light Green Bar Beads (6.2g) – Listed Value $2.75
These beads match the triangles. They are pretty small so you get quite a lot of them in 6.2 grams. This particular shape has been around for awhile and can be purchased at any number of online bead retailers, so it is pretty easy to find patterns and projects, or you can just use them as 2-hole spacer bars in simpler strung pieces.
Here is a bracelet I made with the GemDuos and the StormDuos as well as a few seed beads from my stash and some Swarovski rose montees (I used crystal ones because they had gold-toned settings which I thought would match the StormDuos and the splash pattern on the GemDuos a little better). Also I used a cool magnetic clasp I found in my stash. This turned out just a tad too short but I had a full cart at Potomac Beads and $9 in rewards credit (the StormDuos were $8.59!) so I took it as a sign and ordered more. When they come I will remove one end of the clasp and extend the bracelet by another unit and then it should fit better. Here is the Etsy pattern I used, which was easy to follow.
Verdict: I calculated a value for the February 2019 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club of $25.50. This is just shy of 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 was really happy with the pattern I picked out, and I think the various colors went together quite nicely.
More importantly, I really, really love 2-hole beads, and they can be expensive ($8.59 for more StormDuos!). 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 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 $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!
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What did you think of the February 2019 2-Hole Beads of the Month Club? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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