Bargain Bead Box is a monthly DIY subscription promising over $40 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: $15.95
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: US (free), Canada for $7.50
Bargain Bead Box April 2019 “Relic” Review
Bargain Bead box always includes a few clasps and other findings in matching metal tones; this month they were in an antique silver finish. Here’s more about the specific items in the box this month:
There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme (“Relic”). The back contained a list of the month’s beads.
7.5” Strand 8mm Faceted Agate Round Beads
You’ll usually receive a few semi-precious stones with this subscription. These agate beads come in nice, earthy colors. I used a few of these in my necklace this month (see below).
15 Pieces 8mm Bead Caps
You’ll also usually receive bead caps. Whatever chain, findings, etc. are supplied are all in the same color so it is easy to put a piece of jewelry together with minimal extra bits (I used some headpins and jump rings from my stash). I used a handful of these in my project this month.
4 Pieces 16 x 11mm Ceramic Oval Beads
I think the finish on these is pretty cool; these sort of mottled colors have appealed to me lately. I think these have large enough holes to be incorporated into a macramé bracelet (which is often my first idea when receiving ceramic and/or large-hole beads).
1m 4mm Steel Curb Chain
You’ll receive chain most months as well. It is almost always plated steel chain. What that means for you is that you should use a heavy-duty wire cutter to cut lengths of chain because, this being steel, you would likely damage your regular wire cutters. I used a bit of this chain this month but I have plenty left.
3 Pieces 13 x 16mm 3 Strand Chandelier Links
These definitely spoke to me this month. I spent a few days trying to figure out exactly how to use them, and I changed my mind a few times. In the end, I used two of them to go from 3 strands to 1 and I think it worked well.
16” Strand 4 x 3mm Electroplated Chinese Crystal Beads, Copper Topaz
Chinese crystal in a variety of shapes, sizes, and finishes is common in Bargain Bead Box. It has a lot of sparkle without being quite so precisely machined as is the case with Swarovski. I used some of these in my necklace this month (I used more beads from the box in this month’s piece than I think I ever have before).
40 Pieces 6mm Half Matte Electroplated Glass Barrel Beads, Copper
These are fun. They have one shiny strip around the middle and are matte elsewhere. They have a not-quite-spherical shape. You guessed it – I used some of these in my necklace as well.
2 Pieces 38mm Dzi-Style Agate Oval Beads
These are big and heavy. The information sheet says they are permanently dyed and heat-treated; however, some color did rub off in the baggie that held them, so do be careful. I am thinking I need to do some wire wrapping with these because they are a bit too heavy for several other uses that have occurred to me so far.
10.5” Strand 6mm Glass Round Beads, Teal
It’s actually pretty rare to get glass rounds in this subscription. These are a good size for beadweaving patterns and that’s probably how I’ll end up using them.
8 Pieces 12mm Chinese Crystal Fancy Round Beads, Steel Peacock
I like the faceting pattern here, which is easy to see in the image. This is a different pattern from similarly-sized beads (hey, this is something I care about!). I am challenging myself lately to use larger beads and these will fit the bill nicely.
10 Pieces 10 x 5mm Round Links
These are quite small and thus appropriate for small earrings and bracelets. I have some ideas on how to use them that I can put into action once I find some better quality eye pins than the ones I currently have in my collection.
48 Pieces 6 x 4mm Matte Electroplated Chinese Crystal Rondelles, Green Iris
Here is yet more Chinese crystal. I guess I had never thought about this before, but there are some Chinese crystal beads with matte finishes. I used some of these in my necklace.
39mm Chevron Pendant
You’ll often get one or two large pendants in this subscription. This one is subdued. I have some ideas on how to add this to a boho type of design with some other metal elements.
10” Strand 8mm Green Glass Rondelle Beads
Smooth Rondelles are hard to come by but really good as spacer beads. See how I used some of these below (I still have a lot of these left to try other things with – I think I want to see how they look with brass).
24 Pieces 9 x 5mm Embossed Tab Spacer Beads
These had big holes but the holes were partially or completely blocked in all but six of the beads. I picked out the best ones and used them to (partially) cover knots, but a lot of these will require a drill. Since it is hard metal I don’t think most bead reamers would work.
2 Sets Embellished Triangle Clasps
You’ll always receive clasps with this subscription. I used one of these as a focal piece in a necklace and I think it turned out well, you can see it below. They are visually interesting and deserve not to be hidden behind my hair!
Here is a necklace I made with quite a few beads in the box. I think the clasp-as-focal idea might’ve worked a bit better with a round clasp, but I wanted to use what was in the box. I spent a long time on this but I think it turned out well.
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. The information sheet gives a retail value of about $54 and I can believe that value if you were to go out looking for similar beads to purchase individually. There is definitely enough here to make several pieces of jewelry, too. Looking at it another way, you are paying just about $1 per item since the price is $15.95 and there were 16 items this month. And THAT is a pretty good deal.
Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, etc.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you would receive the May 2019 box as your first one, although they do sometimes offer past boxes on their site, and individual items can sometimes be purchased from Bead Box Bargains.
Value Breakdown: At $15.95 for this subscription, you are paying about $1 per item.
Check out my past reviews of Bargain Bead Box or 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 April 2019 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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