By Kathryn Keil

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Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Doing some last-minute shopping for the bead lover in your life? Is there an air of quiet desperation in the eyes of the person who is trying to choose a gift for YOU?

A subscription bead box is a fantastic gift for the jewelry maker. We did reviews of seven different subscription boxes and found one more interesting and fun than the next. For the full reviews of each box, click here and here, but in this quick review, each staff member of Facet, the Kalmbach Books Department and Bead&Button magazine picks their favorite!

COST: $8.00 per month for the Dollar Bead Bag; $19.95 per month for the Dollar Bead Box.

SHIPPING: $4.50 for one box; shipping free if you sign up for longer subscriptions.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, at any time.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Not on the website, but email or call.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? No.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? Sort of: each component available separately while supplies last.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

DOLLAR BEAD BOX

BEST BOX FOR THE BEADER ON A BUDGET www.dollarbeadbox.com

Bead&Button magazine associate editor Cassie Donlen loved this box.

"The Dollar Bead Box was my favorite because it truly lives up to it’s name. I was amazed at the amount of bounty included, especially when you consider how reasonable the monthly fee is, and that you can order more for only A DOLLAR! Not to mention, the selection and quality of beads was very impressive."

COST: $29.95 per month

SHIPPING: Included for US addresses; $3.30 to Canada or $5.30 (plus customs/VAT) to other international addresses.

HELP WITH THE PATTERN AVAILABLE? Yes, via email.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, by logging in to the website.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Yes, and you can choose the recipient’s favorite colors.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? No.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? Yes, in limited quantities.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, Facebook and Pinterest. Post your finished work there. The website also has a blog where you can learn more about the designers and about life in Alaska!

BEAD TROVE

BEST BOX FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO FOLLOW A PATTERN www.BeadTrove.com

Kalmbach Books editor Erica Swanson would love for someone to send her this box.

"To have a pattern and all the supplies needed to make it all in one place is such a wonderful idea! To have one project arrive each month (without having to leave my house in the snow) will keep me motivated all winter long."

COST: $22.00 per month (US dollars)

SHIPPING: These boxes originate in Canada. Shipping is $3.50 within Canada, $5.00 to the US or $8.50 internationally (US dollars).

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, at any time.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Yes, in 3-month, 6-month or 12-month increments.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? Only if merchandise is defective.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? Yes, while supplies last.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BLUEBERRY COVE BEADS

BEST BOX FOR THE BEADER WHO REALLY, REALLY LOVES A THEME www.blueberrycovebeads.com

The favorite box of Facet web editor Heather Gergen!

"The box we received from Blueberry Cove Beads was simply delightful. From the wooden laser etched tags and satin bags to the beautiful assortment of glass beads. My favorite was the bird box. What a variety! Twitter birds, mockingjays, lovebirds, little red owls. How cute!"

COST: $25.00 per month; cheaper if you prepay a 3-month or 6-month subscription.

SHIPPING: Included in the monthly cost.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, at any time.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Yes, several different choices.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? No.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? Due to the limited availability of these unique beads, no. But they do sell overstock on their Etsy store, Adelalexis.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

VINTAGE BEAD BOX

BEST BOX FOR THE THRIFT STORE LOVER www.VintageBeadBox.us

This one was my favorite!

I have always been thrilled by one-of-a-kind, vintage treasures. I am an antiques and estate sale junkie and am always ready to go exploring to find that special treasure from days gone by. To have them arrive in a surprise box each month seems like magic!

COST: On a monthly basis, the boxes are $7.99/$15.99/$35.00. But if you prepay a subscription in 3-month, 6-month or 12-month increments, the per-month cost goes down.

SHIPPING: Yes, cost varies depending on zip code.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, and they also offer a “Skip-A-Month” feature.

ARE GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Yes, at several price points.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? No.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? No.

BEAD CRATE

BEST BOX FOR THE BEADER WHO DREAMS IN COLOR www.BeadCrate.com

Diane Bacha, the editorial director of both Facet and Bead&Button, couldn't keep her eyes off of this one.

"SO MANY COLORS! The beads were such lovely quality and I am going to reuse that box for something... I'm not sure what yet And I love that I can choose from the different price points to to fit my budget. After all, I have a lot of beaders on my list!"

COST: $15.95 per month

SHIPPING: Free in the US, $7.50 to Canada.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, at any time.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Yes, several different options.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? No.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? Yes, while supplies last, and can you usually get more of individual components on their sister website.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, Facebook.

BARGAIN BEAD BOX

BEST BOX FOR THE BEADER WHO JUST WANTS TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND MAKE JEWELRY www.BargainBeadBox.com

Favorite box of Bead&Button magazine editorial assistant Lora Groskiewicz!

"This is perfect for someone like me who doesn't have a big bead stash. I could make a lot of really nice pieces of jewelry and all I would need are headpins and pliers. Who doesn't have that on hand?"

COST: Most boxes are $22.95 per month for a Single, $39.95 for a Double; seed beads are less, Swarovski is higher.

SHIPPING: $4.50 for one box, $6.50 for two, $10.50 for three, etc.

CAN YOU CANCEL? Yes, at any time.

ARE GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE? Not via the website, but call or email.

RETURNS ACCEPTED? Yes, 100% money back guarantee.

PAST KITS AVAILABLE? No.

BEAD OF THE MONTH CLUB

Bead&Button magazine editor Julia Gerlach's AND associate editor Connie Whittaker's favorite box!

Julia: "My favorite box was from the Beads of the Month Club by Adornable Elements. I love that they have so many options for customizing your subscription and that all the beads would be usable in bead stitching projects. Because I am a pretty eclectic beader, I would probably pick the option to rotate through the various boxes so I would get a little of everything throughout the year."

Connie: "I love to work with all the new beads on the market, so I liked that this box gave me a variety of newer beads to expand the color palette of my stash, and that they came in reusable storage containers."

FIND MORE: beads , buttons , stringing

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

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