Bargain Bead Box Subscription Review – October 2020

Bargain Bead Box is a monthly DIY subscription promising over $50 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: $17.95/month

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: The US for free, Canada for $3.50, and worldwide for a low cost. Contact Bargain Bead Box for affordable international rates.

Bargain Bead Box October 2020 "Autumn Horizons" 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:

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There was a letter in the box with some more information on the theme. The back contained a list of the month’s beads. I just want to say that I really like how they're now indicating whether items are lead-free (all the metals are) or nickel-free (most of the metals are).

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.

100 Pieces 4mm Round Steel Spacer Beads

These are pretty basic but great for adding textural variation to either the gemstone beads for this month or the crystals. You would probably want to string them on beading wire as the holes are too big for most headpins. But there are still a lot of options for these.

2 Sets 18x23mm Ornate Round Toggle Clasps

You'll generally receive a couple of clasps. Toggles are the most common and they're often on the larger side, so most suitable for a necklace (especially a heavy one). I used one of these in a necklace this month and still have one left for my stash.

7" Strand 8mm Carnelian Round Beads

We've started getting a lot more gemstones in this subscription, which is fun. I haven't used the gemstones too often lately so I challenged myself to pick at least one of them for my piece this month. You can see what I did below.

14" Strand 4mm Crystal Bicone Beads, Peach Jade Magma

Chinese crystal is a Bargain Bead Box mainstay. It offers a nice amount of sparkle whether you choose a stringing project or beadweaving (and I have used it for both). I haven't used this yet but I have a couple of ideas that involve seed beads (for what it's worth, Bargain Bead Box promises not to send seed beads, but that's OK because I have an enormous stash of them).

1m 4x3mm Textured Steel Jewelry Chain

Most months you will receive chain. Sometimes I use it in my project for the month and sometimes it goes into my stash (where it often comes in handy). I used most of this in a necklace this month and I like how it turned out.

10g 4.5mm Bumpy Rondelle Spacer Beads

Here is a second type of spacer bead with a totally different texture although a similar size. These also have a fairly large hole; you might even be able to string them on leather cord.

46x42mm Chandelier Focal

This seems like it ought to be part of a set with the smaller chandelier components (see below). I always agonize about what to use as dangles for components like this although there are plenty of options among the beads from this package, this month.

7" Strand 6x4mm Crystal Rondelle Beads, Green Jade Shimmer

I really like the finish on these, I can't explain why I just think it looks nice with the green color. I like overall how the oranges and yellow-greens this month are just different enough from red and green that they don't call Christmas or winter holidays to mind but are still perfect for fall. I have some brass discs in my stash that might look nice in a bracelet with these.

10g 6mm Leaf Bead Cap

You'll almost always get bead caps with this subscription. I used these in my necklace this month as I felt the color really tied all the elements of the necklace together. I have a lot left if I want to use them for something else, too!

4 Pieces 27x22mm Chandelier Components

These would make a nice pair of earrings to go with the larger component up above. You would want to use lightweight dangles here for sure as these are pretty substantial for earrings (but I think I could make them work).

5 Pieces 12mm Crystal, Matte Stripe, Magma AB

In addition to the usual bicones and rondelles, we got smaller amounts of some unusual crystal shapes, which I think is fun. I have bought some extra large gemstone rounds in the past year that I think would look really nice strung with these.

5 Pieces 12mm Crystal Coin Beads, Blue Iris

I like how the light hits these. I might also use these with some gemstone as I have a fair number of flat disc beads as well, in a variety of sizes. Although I am thinking more of a blue gemstone than anything in this package. (That is one of the advantages of having a large stash, though...)

12 piece Strand 10mm Crackle Agate Round Beads, Rust Red

This is an unusual effect that honestly kind of reminds me of the veins on an eyeball. So maybe these would be good for a Halloween design. Alternatively, they might provide some nice contrast with a reddish gemstone with a few white inclusions, since these are kind of the opposite color scheme.

20 Pieces 7mm Leaf Spacer Beads

These are cute and lightweight little spacers if you'd prefer something different from a round or rondelle. They're delicate but seem like they would hold up to some abuse and I think they would work in nearly any kind of jewelry you wanted to make (earrings, bracelets, etc).

7" Strand 8x6mm Crystal Rondelle Beads, Denim AB

More rondelles! These are also lovely and a little bit larger than the green ones. Although they have some nice sparkle, I feel like these are probably destined for a supporting role in whatever I make from them (like on either side of a pendant or focal).

15" Strand Bright Red Orange Agate Round Beads

I've been a little obsessed with banded gemstones lately and have bought a lot of agates and sardonyx. These are agate, probably color-enhanced, but I think it works because it really brings out the natural patterns in the stone.

5 Pieces 23mm Floral Medallion Links

Here are some links; I might use them between Murano glass beads with silver foil in them, in a bracelet, or just as connectors in earrings. I might consider adding some color (I have some faux enamel type products) but we will see.

48 Piece Strand 5x3mm Crystal Fancy Bicone Beads, Sea Green Shimmer

Here is a little bit of a different bicone shape. I like unusual shapes so of course, I was interested in these. I ended up using a handful of them in the necklace I made this month (which you can see below).

10 Pieces Czech Maple Leaf Pressed Glass Beads, Matte Peridot

It is nice to see some Czech glass in Bargain Bead Box, that doesn't happen very often. Anyway, these go great with the theme as well as the other colors in the box. I think I will put them on headpins and use them with some of my other leaf beads to make a charm bracelet.

30mm Carnelian and Brass Filigree Round Pendant

I really love this although I can't quite explain why. I am going back and forth about how best to use it (and have considered everything from just putting it on a chain to designing something very elaborate to go along with it. Anyway, you'll usually get a couple of pendants each month with this subscription and this is one of them.

Here is what I made this month:

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First I dug some eyepins and jump rings out of my stash. Then I cut the chain into a bunch of little pieces (I didn't use all of it so you could make a longer necklace if you wanted). Then I made some links using the carnelian, some of the Chinese crystal, and the bead caps. I connected these units in an alternating pattern with the chain and added one of the clasps that came in the package.

Here is the finished necklace:

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Bargain Bead Box, as explained above. Autumn colors have always appealed to me and there were so many ways you could go with the items in this box. I can obviously still get several more pieces of jewelry out of the items I received (and even more still if I start mixing in items from my stash). I really feel like I got a lot of items in this subscription and that the value was good, even if I couldn't add up a total. I also had a fun time trying something a little different with chain; I will have to do more of that in the future.

Please note that no directions are given and you usually have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, etc. and come up with your own project(s).

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you would receive the November 2020 box as your first one if you sign up before the 9th, although they do sometimes offer past boxes on their site, and individual items can sometimes be purchased from Bead Box Bargains.

Value Breakdown: At $17.95 for this subscription, you are paying about $0.90 per item.

Check out my past reviews of Bargain Bead Box and 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 October 2020 Bargain Bead Box? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?