BeadCrate Subscription Box Review – November 2019

BeadCrate is a monthly subscription box for beading enthusiasts. Choose from “The Enthusiast” for $18.99 a month or “The Collector” for $35 a month. You can also buy a single box to see if this subscription is for you.

This is a review of “The Enthusiast,” which is $18.99/month + $5 shipping.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About BeadCrate

The Subscription Box: BeadCrate

The Cost: $18.99 a month + $5 shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.

The Products: A selection of beads curated around a monthly theme (or beads that are just cool and random).

Ships to: The US (free for “The Collector,” $5 for “The Enthusiast”)

BeadCrate November 2019 “Apple Picking” Review

BeadCrate is great for stash-building if you are into seed beads and Czech glass, and you’ll also usually get some useful supplies:

This letter/information sheet accompanied the shipment. This month has a lot of darker colors that seem appropriate as it's (finally) getting colder around here.

A note on prices: Items like this can come from a variety of different suppliers at many price points depending on how many you buy, etc. I couldn’t find a lot of these exact beads from common sources (e.g., Fire Mountain Gems) and it’s of questionable value to pick something similar because a slight difference in grading or size or material and you are looking at half or double the price (or an even greater difference). Even different colors of the same size and shape of glass beads are priced differently due to materials needed to make the colors!

3mm Firepolished Rounds in Saturated Metallic Meadowlark (Czech glass, 50)

I love the saturated metallic colors. I don't have so many in this color (though I'm sure I have a few...). 3mm rounds are great for patterns, right-angle weave, and just about every project type out there. These also happen to match quite a lot in my stash. I used some of these in a pair of earrings this month.

8mm Firepolished Rounds in Chrysolite (Czech glass, 19)

Here are some larger firepolished rounds in a different shade of green. I've been wanting to branch out a bit into working with larger beads so these will be a good opportunity.

6 x 3 mm Firepolished Melonberry Mix Faceted Rondelles (Czech glass, 60)

I love these although I don't know how I will use them yet. I sometimes hear this shape called "belly rondelles" I guess because the ends are flat instead of rounded (to distinguish them from regular rondelles that are more like squished firepolished rounds in shape). Anyway, I like the color mix a lot and I may put these on eyepins and use them in a necklace.

12 x 9 mm Coral Pink Picasso Polished Ovals (Czech glass, 6)

I'm also a big fan of table cut beads (which these are) as well as anything Picasso finished. I like how the edges kind of make the pink more fall-like. I think these will go great in a simple bracelet and/or earrings.

3 mm Brown Garnet Rounds (Czech glass, 100)

3mm rounds are something I hoard for patterns. These are quite dark and definitely a great fall color. I used a few in my earrings this month but I have plenty left over, as well.

8 x 3 mm Siam Ruby Dime Beads (Czech glass, 25)

I have this thing for flat rounds that I don't totally understand. I just really like them. This is a nice color for an apple-themed box but also would work later in the year for holiday items, making the box more versatile. I haven't used these yet but I'm sure I will soon.

6 mm Firepolished Hurricane Crystal/Sapphire (Czech glass, 25)

These have a swirled two-tone color that makes the blue a little bit less stunningly bright, but still pretty. I think these need to be used in conjunction with some silvertone findings and could be included in some simple bead weaving or something made from following a pattern.

Toho 11/0 Opaque Sour Apple (Japanese glass, 2.5" tube)

You'll always get seed beads in this subscription, usually size 11/0 (occasionally 8/0). I used these in my earrings this month as well. I am pretty sure I already had this color in my collection because I really like it.

4 mm Firepolished Rounds in Milky Antique Shimmer (Czech glass, 50)

You really need to look at these close up to see the details of the finish, which I think is pretty. It's kind of like a gold wash over some lighter beads. I used some of these in my earrings this month, where I found that they worked with a lot of different colors, even though you might not think so at first.

10 x 8 mm Topaz Leaves (Czech glass, 25)

Fall leaves are definitely appropriate for an apple-themed box. I need to come up with some new ideas for using leaf-shaped beads. I think these might look good in a piece that goes heavy on the wire, or else with some of the other leaf-shaped beads from my stash (or both).

3 x 5 mm Hurricane Crystal/Amethyst/Orange Rectangles (Czech glass, 50)

I don't think I've seen beads like these before but I like them, both the shape and the use of color. I used some in my earrings this month but I have a few left that might look good in a minimalist bracelet.

4 mm Ruby AB Triangle Nuggets (Czech glass, 50)

I love these as well. This is also a new shape for me. They are not quite the same as triangle-shaped Japanese seed beads, although they are a little similar. I don't think they would work well in patterns, but I did like the texture elements they added to my earrings.

6mm Garnet Lentils (Czech glass, 50)

And last, but not least, we have a classic shaped bead, the one-hole lentil. I have a LOT of these in my collection but I don't think I had this color before now. These are good as dangles and flower petals and in fringe elements, and there are also a lot of patterns calling for them.

Here are the materials I used to make earrings this month. You'll recognize six bead types from the box. I also used some wire I had (no idea where it came from or the gauge but it's probably Artistic Wire, which is color-coated copper), some earring hooks, some jump rings (any will do, I tend to buy big cases of multiple sizes for cheap on Amazon), and these hoop findings.

First I cut a length of wire and wrapped it around the edge of the hoop.

I started adding rows of beads in different colors.

I kept going.

And kept going. This took a lot of rearranging while I worked. When done adding beads, I wrapped the second end of the wire around the hoop again and cut the extra off.

I made a second one the same way.

I added the earring hook with a jump ring. The earring hook color is a little off because it's anodized niobium (a hypoallergenic material) while the earring hoop finding and jump ring are gold-colored (plated) metals.

Here are the finished earrings.

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for BeadCrate, as explained above in my note about prices. If you divide the cost of the box plus shipping by the number of items (I counted 13), you get about $1.84 per item. I like this month's colors a lot and always appreciate getting a lot of good basics (like firepolished rounds) as well as some new and/or different shapes (rectangles, nuggets).

Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, and findings. 

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your subscription would start with the January box if you order by 1/1. Destash items and excess inventory (and sometimes whole boxes) may occasionally be available in the BeadCrate Etsy shop.

Value Breakdown: At $23.99 for this subscription (counting shipping), you are paying about $1.84 per item.

Check out my past BeadCrate reviews and visit 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 November 2019 BeadCrate? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?