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!
In addition to their Bead of the Month Club, Darn Good Yarn also offers a Yarn of the Month Club, Fabric of the Month Club, and Sock of the Month Club.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (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: The continental US for $4; Hawaii, Alaska, US territories, and international for $13
Darn Good Beads of the Month December 2019 Review
I’ve been receiving Darn Good Beads of the Month for a few months. I expect to 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:
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The project came in a small box and included a detailed information booklet with project instructions.
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Lavender Sunrise Necklace
I like this month's pendant. The project is pretty simple. First you crimp beading wire around a jump ring (it helps to close the jump rings with pliers as they are not soldered and come partially open). I used crimping pliers instead of flatnose pliers as suggested. I can't recommend a pair of crimping pliers because I've had mine for over 20 years and I don't know where they came from. Anyway, then you string two types of beads on the beading wire, add a pendant, mirror your pattern of beads, and crimp the other jump ring on the other end, then trim the excess.
If you take a look at the 4th picture, you'll see a little bit of metal. I broke the second crimp. And only two were provided. Luckily, as you'll see in the 5th picture, I had something that didn't look quite the same but that would serve as a replacement. So the next crimping attempt worked, then I trimmed the excess wire.
Then you add the "leather." I am not sure what sort of substance this is, but it had an odd smell so it may be synthetic. (It wasn't overpowering or headache-inducing.) It isn't super flexible and I had trouble forming the knots, perhaps because of the thickness, but I did eventually get it to work. You cut it in two and tie each piece to the jump rings, then you make a sliding knot for the back. I'm not sure how well I would've been able to follow the directions if I hadn't done this before, but there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials for making this type of clasp (which allows the necklace to be adjustable) on the internet if you go looking. They do recommend you put a bit of glue on the knots so I did, and then I let it dry and trimmed the excess ends.
If I had any criticisms, I think they would be: (1) I wish they would have provided an extra crimp or two because they are cheap and if one breaks then you have a backup and (2) it is kind of weird to get silver-tone crimps and jump rings but a pendant that has a gold-tone bail; I would prefer to have both in the same color (and either would work here). But overall, this wasn't terribly difficult to complete. You will need glue (I just used superglue but other types may work), wire cutters (to trim excess beading wire), pliers (to close the jump rings that came kind of open), and scissors to cut the cording.
Here is the finished piece; it can really be quite long and I might've shortened it a bit if I'd known (it does have to adjust to fit over your head).
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Darn Good Beads of the Month because the materials were unbranded/not labeled and items like this generally can't be purchased in such small quantities. This project was a fairly representative project for this subscription in terms of the types of materials you would typically use in a project from Darn Good Beads and of the skill level required. I rather like the pendant and may try to find some similar ones online.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you’ll receive the February box. More from Darn Good Beads:
If you place your order by the 1st, then your box will ship on the 20th (or the next business day during weekends). If you place your order after the 1st, then your box will ship the next month.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 15% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter. No coupon needed - just use this link.
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 December 2019 Darn Good Beads of the Month? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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