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!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (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: $10/month plus shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: 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: US ($4/continental US) and international ($13/Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, and other countries)
Darn Good Beads of the Month July 2019 Review
I’ve been receiving Darn Good Beads of the Month for a few months. I know I will 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:
The package came with this paper, which contained instructions for this month’s project.
Stones of Saturn Drop Earrings
For this project, you will need some pliers (I used roundnose and bent chainnose, but it’s a personal preference, to a degree). You may also want some flush cutters but that is a matter of preference. I didn’t use them because I tried to follow the directions exactly.
Anyway, this is a basic stringing project. Follow the directions to put the provided beads on the headpins, then make a wrapped loop to secure them to the earring findings. I have to admit, I strongly dislike making wrapped loops, but I think it’s because I’m not very good at it (so don’t look too closely at mine here) and it’s probably good that I had the chance to practice. If you didn’t want to make wrapped loops, you could cut the wires and make simple loops, since these are just dangle earrings that don’t weigh a lot.
These worked up quickly and don’t require much in the way of skill other than the making of the wrapped loops. I like the colors and the beads seem high quality, although I’ll admit I am not sure what material the larger round beads are. Perhaps some kind of synthetic gemstone (of the azurite-malachite variety, or something of that nature) but I don’t know for certain.
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Darn Good Beads of the Month because the materials were unbranded/not labeled. I do feel that the physical materials provided were of decent quality and the earrings were lightweight and comfortable to wear. I don’t know what the earring findings are made from so I coated them with some clear nail polish first. I would say this was a typical sort of project for this subscription and also a typical difficulty level. If you would like to get started making jewelry, this subscription provides beginner-level projects that don’t take a lot of time, so it’s low-to-no frustration, and all you really need is a basic pliers set (many available on Amazon for under $25) and maybe some scissors and a tube of superglue to get started.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? This was July’s box and may no longer be available. In general, you’ll get your first box at sign-up and then you’ll move to the regular shipping schedule after that.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $14 (including shipping to the continental US) and you get all the materials to make one (usually jewelry) project.
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 July 2019 Darn Good Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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