BeadCrate is a monthly subscription box for beading enthusiasts. They used to offer “The Enthusiast” for $18.99 a month and “The Collector” for $35 a month, but the latter option is the only one currently available. 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. This box is not currently available.
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 April 2020 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's theme "Spring Fling" and there are tons of seasonally-appropriate colors.
Silver Plate Hook Ear Wires (1o pairs)
I accidentally bought 500 PAIRS of silver-plated earwires from Fire Mountain recently so I have enough to last a lifetime. However, these are a slightly different style, so they will be useful for some applications. I didn't make earrings for this box, this month, though, because I have made a lot of earrings lately and I just needed to do something else for a change.
3mm Firepolished Crystal/Color Rounds (Czech glass, 50)
I think these would be fun in a beadweaving pattern as they could tie together accent beads in some of the colors that appear here. There are tons of patterns calling for 3mm rounds so I know I will find the right one soon.
15 x 8mm Aqua Pearl Drops (Czech glass, 6)
I used one of these in a necklace this month but there are plenty left over -- I could make another necklace for layering, some matching earrings, etc. (It is very rainy here today so I gravitated towards blues and greens...)
Silicone Earring Backs (144)
You can use these with the earring hooks for some added security if you want, or you can keep them around as extras in case you lose earring backs. Another thing that is nice about having so many is that if you buy earring posts from TierraCast and some of the brands like that, they often don't come with backs, so you have to dig some up anyway. Plus these are hypoallergenic.
3mm Luster Transparent Topaz/Pink English Cut Rounds (Czech glass, 50)
You do need some purples for spring, too. (Even though these are listed as topaz/pink, the mixed colors are giving me a purple vibe.) 4mm rounds are good for patterns (here is a site with a lot of patterns for 4mm rounds if you are looking for one).
6mm Crystal/Light Amethyst Hurricane Glass (Czech glass, 25)
Last year I bought a ton of 6mm round gemstone beads and I am going to start making bracelets and necklaces with them but I need a few similarly-sized accent beads for visual interest and these will be perfect with anything that is clear, purple, or a mix.
15 x 11mm Color Trends Moscato Wonky Ovals (Czech glass, 4)
I have some other wonky ovals but not in this color. I am picturing these with some burgundy elements, maybe in between some beaded beads made from superduos? Or perhaps between some fancy lampwork beads in a bracelet. Anyway, there are a lot of possibilities.
10 x 8mm Aquamarine Leaves (Czech glass, 50)
I used some of these in a necklace this month since they matched the color scheme I was going for. I kind of like how it turned out.
6mm Matte Flamingo Glass Pearls (25)
Love these. I have been really into pinks lately and I also think these would go well as spacers in simple strung bracelets between gemstone beads (maybe with some rose quartz?).
4 mm Firepolished Bluebell Hurricane Glass Rounds (Czech glass, 50)
I also used some of these in my necklace this month but there are plenty left over. I don't have so many blues in my collection although I'm not sure why, because I think this color is really pretty.
24 x 20mm Rosaline Chunky Table Cut Diamonds (Czech glass, 2)
These are a little big to go in earrings, I think (at least for me). I'll bet I can find a nice pendant and put them on either side of it on a chain and they should work well that way.
7 x 5mm Firepolished Light Teal Gem Cut Rondelles (Czech glass, 25)
I think these are beautiful and they really match the color palette I've been going for lately. They also matched the scheme I wanted to use for this month's project so I've used them in my necklace, as you can see below.
Toho 11/0 Transparent Light Siam Ruby (Japanese glass, 2.5" tube)
You'll get seed beads generally every month with BeadCrate. This month (and many other months) it was 11/0 seed beads; sometimes you will receive 8/0 instead. Or, like last month, you may occasionally get bugle beads. I don't have a project in mind for these at the moment but this is not a color of seed beads I have in my stash so I'm sure they will come in handy soon.
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I have been wanting to make some beaded chains lately; I haven't bought any because it seems hard to justify when all you need are pliers, wire, and beads. I had a spool of copper wire and I found a tray with lots of matching jump rings (I sort by metal finish and those black things are anti-tarnish tabs). First I cut some wire, then I made wrapped loops, then added the leaf beads and finished off with more wrapped loops. So far, so good.
Then I made a dangle with one drop bead and went back to wrapped loops. During this process I ended up poking myself with the end of some wire and bleeding and I lost enthusiasm for making wrapped loops at that point. I started connecting the link elements I'd made together with jump rings but didn't have nearly enough length for a necklace. I dug through my box of chain and found some bright copper chain and finished it off that way.
Here is the necklace. It is a bit longer than this but I tucked some chain under the back so I could photograph the whole thing in one image. It's not as elaborate as I originally envisioned but I actually like how it turned out pretty well.
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 think my favorite beads this month were either the rondelles or the pink glass pearls, but I liked all the bright colors and the silicone earring backs will be useful.
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? Your subscription would likely start with the May box, which is now open until 05/01/2020. The shipping window is May 7th-13th due to COVID-19 delays. 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 April 2020 BeadCrate? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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