I love my art because I love my art.

When I first started my art fan page on facebook and even this blog I couldn’t wait to see how many likes or followers I received and how fast I could get them. I had seen others and their Fanpages and blogs. They had hundreds and thousands of followers and likes. I knew that I was going to get them too! It didn’t really work out that way. I only have 66 followers on my blog and under 200 on my Fan page. I have had the blog for a couple of years and the fan page for maybe one.

After a while I would come on line and feel like I practically had to beg for people to like or follow for lack of interaction or recognition. Follow for a follow? Like me for a like? It seemed like that was the way that it should be. That is how everyone else was doing it and it worked for them! Right? Easy enough. So I did it. Nothing really came of it. I couldn’t even get those! It made me feel like I was no one again. My person wasn’t important or ‘good enough’ for the world again. I really did think that social networking would make me for once feel like a star! In reality it only made me feel like no was interested in again. Actually it made me feel worse. I was in cyber space where there are millions of people. But I still could not grab their attention.

Then I realized that it is just like before all over again. I am stripping myself of my person and trying to be something I am not once again. I am putting up with other peoples junk so that I can be noticed.  Like for a like. What if I don’t like what you are doing? Follow for a follow? Maybe the blog bores me because we do not share the same issues. I still have to pretend like I do just so that they will pretend that they are interested in me? Clearly they are not by the fact that they never even once liked my posts or read my blog entries. They never comment or even type hi onto to my wall.

I have to ask myself, is it worth it? This time I will not take years to figure this out. This time I am going to stop it now.

I am not a business trying to sell my product. I refuse to believe that anymore or hear that from other people. I am a human who creates art work. I am a human who paints for her sanity. I love my art work. It makes me who I am. It keeps me where I need to be. Not anyone else. It makes me a devoted mother and wife and a thoughtful person. I am also fully aware that it is a gift from God. So why do I need to worry about the amount of ‘likes’ or ‘followers’ that I have? I shouldn’t.

I am going to decide that I don’t. I also know that it is going to be easier said than done but I am going to still try. It’s my life and no one else’s. I have to be the one to maintain it. Not anyone else. I have been fighting for a long time to win the approval of Frankie to allow the internet to set me back again. I have come too far.

No more likes for a like. No more follows for a follow.

This may sound like I am over thinking things but I do think that all the social interacting on the internet has really done a number on us all in many more ways than this. 

This has happen before - How social networking makes you feel

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Learning to love Modern Art!

I was doing some studying lastnight on art and I came across a little thing on Theo Van Doesburg (1881 -1931). His art work made me think about something that may have nothing to do with the art itself. I don't know because I do not know enough about him. Just the small bit in the book that I have. So I am just going to tell you about that for now. Then later I can go and learn  little more about him and see what his motives were. If there were in fact any at all. 

I am not a huge fan of Modern Art. As a matter of fact if I had seen the end result of this study from Theo, I would have looked and moved on not thinking anything special about it. I don't "understand" it so I don't care to look at it. How awful is that?? Pretty awful but I admit it. And this thought is what got the ball in my brain rolling. 

First let me show you what I saw: 

Study of a cow 1 for composition

Study of a cow 2 for composition

Study of a cow 3 for composition

Study of a cow 4 for composition (Tempera, oil and charcoal on paper)

Study of a Cow Oil on Canvas 1917. Museum of Modern Art New York Purchase

So here you can see that he went from "natural" to "abstract". I do like to see how he broke it down the way he did. I can actually see the cow now in the last study. It makes perfect sense to me now. 

The end result doesn't really "comply" with what I personally deem to be beautiful art. To me this is nonsensical. But with all the studies in play I see an entire lesson before me. Of course it is that old saying to never judge a book by its cover. 

I started to think deeper than just art though. How easy it is for us to judge things that we don't understand so quickly? We do it to our fellow humans all the time. We don't understand another person so we tend to walk away. They do not comply with our standards so we turn around and ignore them. This painting reminded me of that. 

I have seen so many people just like that painting. No order. No perspective. I can't identify who they are or what they are doing. I am sure that if I could go back to their natural state when they had beautiful curved smiles and beautiful shining eyes with depth and perspective, I would be able to see a hint of that still in their flat shapes and unrecognizable compositions that stood before me now. I wouldn't walk away so fast. I would actually appreciate them for what they are - Humans. Just like me. 

So now for the end result of Study of a Cow. I appreciate what I see before me and see it as it

should be seen - as a work of art. Good Job Theo.

Theo Van Doesburg - Self portrait in a hat. I bet without those composition breakdowns - you would not have guessed he painted like this also! Just goes to show.. we judge way to quickly. I know I did!

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It was a gamble but I had to try something! Fixing a rip in the painting.

A couple of weeks ago I was doing a little showing at one of my friends stores - Time Passages Broken Arrow and I had an accident. I had asked my friend if I could show one of her paintings because I believed it to be one of my better paintings..  She agreed and then made me promise that nothing would happen to it. I promised. Who would have thought that I would be the one to rip it? 

Here is the painting. Before any damages. 

Here is the rip. It was so dumb how it happen! I was setting up the easels that I had bought to display the paintings and it slid down over the painting and just cut it like a hot knife through butter! My heart sank! I couldn't breath! I had to hold back the tears because I didn't know the people I was around and really didn't think they would understand and maybe accuse me of being over dramatic.

I ended up putting a patch on the back with some gesso. 

I learned this from the internet. I took a small piece of canvas material (I used cross stitch material) and cover it in gesso then basically stick it to the back of the canvas over the ripped section. I set something heavy on it to let it dry. Took about 3 days before I dared to touch it.  

I could still see the spot where it had ripped so I then began to layer it with paint and match the colors. Soon I had it all nice and you couldn't see where it had been ripped. YAY! I was done! I saved it! Wrrong!

I had it sitting on a table waiting to dry and I think the cats knocked it down or something FREAK accident happen and when it was on the ground, I think my dog stepped on it and punched a huge hole in the upper left hand corner. I seriously thought I was going to have a nervous break down! I was pacing the floor.. Any painting but this one!! Why this one!? 

This time the damage was much more so I had to rethink how to fix it. I learned a trick on the net that you can use Gelatin and chalk! It would make a type of putty that I could use in the front. First I had to do the patch on the back.. Same thing only this time I used none acidic tacky glue. it worked actually better. 

This is what it looked like after it was dry. Now for the putty... You can still kinda see the one on her butt but I had to wait for it to dry then I filled it in more with paint. Good thing that part of her was textured. It was the top part that isn't which I new would be much harder. 

I couldn't tell you how much of it all that I used but I will say it was about 2 teaspoons of the gelatin and maybe a stick in a half of chalk. I crushed it into a fine powder with the flat part of my meat tenderizer. That was fun. 

I started to fill in the cracks.. 

Let it dry nicely then kinda sanded it down. It did not come out right the very first time and I ended up having to make more putty (it goes icky fast and you can't save it) and doing it again. 

Finally I felt it was nice and flat and I could match up the colors again ... You can see a little spot there where the putty - I touched it and thought I could fill it in with paint. I couldn't but when its hanging on the wall you can't tell at all. Just if you are sticking your face right into it. 

Here she is all fixed up. I know that the best way to fix the back is to fuse the fibers the best you can then use a glue of some kind to keep it together. Then once that dries you can do your putty and whatever you need in the front. I will need to practice that. I would really like to be able to paint and repair! Something for sure to look into. And my camera did not do the colors any good. It looks like junk. Setting me up for failure for sure! I assure you you can not see anything wrong with it in person. ;) 

Another thing I saw was that instead of using the large patch you can use strips and pull the painting together like butterfly stitches. 

OF COURSE the best way to take care of this is to send it to a professional to be fixed. IF You have the money. I didn't. 

This is the worst experience so far. I have been turned down for shows and told that my art is not their "thing" and those both hurt... but now I know that it can get worse! This was worse....    I am glad its over. 

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Working with the Clipper Ship...

You would think that the easiest things to paint would be the parts that have no order. I don't think so. They seem to be the hardest for me. The most frustrating. I am working on a clipper ship painting for my husband and it has gone through many transformations since I started... Here is the run down so far... 

After this one - I stopped. The sky became muddy and looked like a mother ship.. I didn't like it. It just wasn't "my sky". So I set it on the floor and started over... 

Then I got this far and stopped. I didn't like anything about this either. My sky just wasn't right the way either. It had no reason to me. Just looked like a bunch of paint here and there.. I wanted more depth. So .. I didn't want to start over again so this time I just painted over that sky and around the boat... 

MUCH BETTER I thought.. But now the water is no good. I painted over it all ... painted in some stuff. Didn't like it. Painted over it again... Finally I felt it was better... 

Here it is as it sits on the easel right now.. I am letting it dry so that I can add all the detail to the ship. All the ropes and such that are to be hanging off, no way can I do it without a steady hand! So I will wait. 

If you would like to see the finished painting be sure to watch for it on my fan site Frankie's Art On Facebook. If you are not already a fan - be sure to press the like button! If you are an artists as well please introduce yourself on there too! 

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I just gotta keep painting - even when I don't want to!

Right now I am working on this painting of Rudyard Kipling. The painting is 24 x 30. So you can see that the face is rather large and takes up most of the canvas. I have never done a face so large. It just seems enormous to me! So anyways - I get to this point on the painting and I just stare at it because I ended up painting in my background that I had started - white again. I really don't know why I made that decision. I didn't want to move forward after that. His face looked so bright and fake to me. I didn't like anything about it. So I worked on his eyes a little bit .. And then I started to like it a little more. But I still wanted to quit. I would go into the living room and just sit and watch tv or something. Then the urge to paint would hit and I would come back to it. Just doing something small to it.. nothing noticeable. I just didn't like it at all. 

Finally I decided that I would paint in a background. And WOW! What a difference it made. It changed the colors of his face. I no longer felt like it was that bad.. I actually warmed up to it very quickly. I then painted in some more little areas with glazes and then started on his shirt collar. What a big difference! So my whole point of this post is that even when you feel like you don't like it or its just not working out... JUST KEEP PAINTING. Tell yourself to just keep going. You have nothing to lose but lack of experience. I had to learn this on my own and I am still learning this.. Just keep painting.. You will eventually like it. 

PS, its not done yet! I still have a long way to go.. Keep in touch!

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What I learned while painting Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman is finally finished. He has been for over a week now. I started another painting and this one is of Rudyard Kipling. Before I get into that however I was going to talk about my Walt painting. What I picked up, and need to remember.. 

The hardest part of this painting for me was his beard. I had no idea how I was going to put in the beard without going over board. To some I may have - to others it may be just right. But what I learned was I really don't have to do every hair in order to make it look right. I just need to make sure there are a few hairs that really stick out from the rest and go into a certain direction to lead your eyes. And that made it look really nice! I don't know if that made any sense... I hope it did. 

I think my favorite part of this painting is the buttons. I love the buttons! 

I was afraid I would have a hard time with the balance also. Because he was kinda off the painting a little with his shirt. So I decided to throw in the chair behind him and make that go off the painting as well. THEN I felt like there was too much space above his head... So I took a streak of dark in the background and made it go off into the corner hoping that it would all balance out a little more.. "I" feel that I accomplished balance. 

I always have to remember when I am painting because I will end up frustrated with what I am doing is that it is "just a romantic representation of the real thing". When I tell myself this, I tend to relax and little more and again enjoy myself. 

If you are new to this blog - I thank you for stopping by. Here is a link to previous entries on the painting before it was finished. Back Post of Walt Whitman Painting If you are a normal visitor I thank you even more! 

If you have not seen my fan page on facebook, please feel free to visit me there as well! If you have a page or blog you would like to share - please do! 

Flesh Color

I have found my perfect flesh tone mixture! What I have here are oil paints. 

1. White

2. Burnt Umber

3. Yellow Ocre

4. Naphthol Crimson

And then you can see the color mix under it. Of course it will change according to how much white you put into it. If you would like to make the skin tone darker then I suppose you can change the amount of burnt umber as well. 

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Thuggee! What is that?

I was watching Ancient Aliens today and I learned something new! I learned where the nick name "Thug" came from. I haven't blogged in a while so I wanted to come in and tell you what I learned. One of you might find it interesting as I did.   
It came from the word Thuggee. Back in the day (as early as the 1300s I read) there was a cult or group of men who would go around killing and robbing people. From what I understand they would do it like Robin Hood style and wait in bushes or trees and hold up people who were passing by. They wore these handkerchief type garments and would wrap them around their victim's neck and strangle them. They did not cut them or spill blood because they worshiped a Hindu goddess by the name of Kali. According to my sources (Ancient Aliens) they did not want their victims to bleed because then Kali could come and take their blood. They wanted to make sure none of it was wasted for her.  And that is why they call people who like to rob and take from others,  thugs. 


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Updated on my recent painting - Walt Whitman

Well here is an update of my latest. I am trying to go very slow and work in layers and glazes. I am learning a little bit more about the glazing process right now. It works MIRACLES! I just need to practice more so I can be smoother. I am so afraid he is going to look like a

cartoon character. That would not be too good for me. We will see.. EVEENNN if he does, I will still appreciate the time I spent on the painting. I am good for that.  I am a little curious how I am going to end up doing all his gray beard. Very curious! Till I blog again! XO 

UPDATE: I worked a bit more and now here is where I am ;) hahaha.. I Know.. Just finish it then show us.. I can't help it.. 

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Painting Walt Whitman - Poet

For the last couple of days I have been complaining to my family and a little on my Facebook Fanpage to my friends that I should be painting and I wasn't. Little did I know but that was my brain working me up for a huge painting. Yesterday I picked up a new canvas and got to work. I am painting Walt Whitman. Poet. I was thinking that if it goes right, I may paint Mark Twain! Ew Ew!! And and.. Ralph Waldo Emerson. My hunny bunny says I should paint them and then "GIVE" yes, I know, I was in shock too - GIVE them to our local library. I started to think about it and I don't know - it might actually be a good idea. No one would buy them, and I don't know if I would display them. I definitely have to think about it. So the picture here is not really all that well put together yet.. I have worked a bit more since this photo so it is coming together much better. I want it to look classic but I don't know if it will. I will need more practice. The backgrounds really frustrate me because I always want to go very dark but I see other paintings that don't and I admire them. So I am going to have to really think about this one. I want to take my time and make it look very nice! 
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Three Daisy Square (Free Crochet Pattern)

Skill level: Easy Method of working: In the round and in rows.  You will be making the square first then you will add the daisies later.  With 2 colors.  Square: With first color. ch 30.
Row 1.) 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. 1 dc in each of 26 ch. 28 dc.  Row 2.) 3 ch, sk first dc, 1 dc in each rem dc, 1 dc in 3rd of 3 ch. Row 3.) 3 ch, sk first dc, 1 dc in each of 21 dc, 2 ch, sk 2 dc, 1 dc in each of 3 dc, 1 dc in 3rd of 3 ch.  Row 4.) As row 2, working 2 into 2-ch sp. Row 5 -6) As Row 2. Row 7.) 3 ch, sk first dc, 1 dc in each of 12 dc, 2 ch, sk 2 dc,1 dc in each 12 dc, 1 dc in 3rd of 3 ch.  Row 8.) As row 2, working 2 dc into 2 ch sp. Row 9-10.) As row 2. Row 11.) 3 ch, sk first dc, 1 dc in each of 3 dc, 2 ch, sk 2 dc, 1 dc in each of 21 dc, 1 dc in 3rd of 3 ch.  Row 12.) As row 2 working 2 dc into 2-ch sp. Row 14.) As row 2  Fasten off. 
DAISIES: Work first daisy in the round around a hole.
Round 1.) With RS facing, join B to first of 2 skipped dc on row 2, 1 ch, 1 sc in next dc, 1 sc in corner, 2 sc in dc at left edge of hole, 1 sc in corner, 1 sc in base of each of 2 dc at top of hole, 1 sc in corner, 2 sc in dc at right edge of hole, 1 sc in corner, ss in first ch, 12 sts.  Round 2.) 6 ch, (ss in next sc, 6 ch) 11 times, ss in last ss of round 1.  Fasten off. Make 2 more daisies in the same way around the the remaining holes. 
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Are Artists Really Insane or Just Think They Are?

I think there are different types of insanity for artist. Me, I am in overdrive all the time.Tonight I am sitting here with a million different things I want to make. It gets to the point where I become so overwhelmed that it might even depress me? Could it possibly be depressing to have too many art projects to do at a time? Almost like when your house is so messy and you just become overwhelmed and just sit down? But then you keep thinking about the mess and looking at it and it is depressing. Well that is kinda how I feel. Lets see .. I am going to make a list...

1. Story Stones. 

2. Inspirational words rocks.

3. 4 mini paintings of flowers (called portrait of a flower)

4. Large painting of Mnt. Whitney.

5. Kitten drawing for a friend. 

6. Dog painting for a friend (need larger pictures though)

7. Plaster stenciling on my walls.

8. Drawing of Bird Tail. 

9. Sewing a bag.

10. Making my daughter a skirt.

11. Making flags for the girl's room. 

12. Making quilts for the kids. 

So these are the things that I need to do. I have started a couple of them already. They are all just kinda sitting around and so am I. I am listening to Pandora and telling my creative genius to take a break! She is in complete over drive right now. I should probably do the children's things first but I really want to paint first! Wait.. I will start with the smallest projects first... Inspirational rocks and story stones.... Maybe... 

Ever have one of these days?? 

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Lee Steen - Self Taught Artist in Roundup Montana.

So as some of you know me and my family went to Montana this summer for vacation. We had such a great time. Montana is one of the prettiest places I have seen! Well anyways, while I was there I was introduced to an artist by the name of Lee Steen. Me and my family decided to go to one of the local museums in Great Falls and that is where I found him.  This description comes straight from the Paris Gibson Museum of Art - 

"Born in 1887 in Horse Cave, Kentucky, Lee and his twin brother Dee moved to Roundup in 1894. After spending his childhood there, Lee traveled to Washington State as a young adult, and also lived in Shelby and Havre. In 1942, he moved back to Roundup, to a small home next door to Dee. Lee and Dee lived side by side until Dee passed away in 66. Lee continued to live on the property until 72. For over thirty years, it featured an assortment of odd mechanical constructions, exotic animals and an unruly crowd of Lee's expressive sculptures. Sadly the Steen homestead no longer exists in its original form. The deaths of the brothers marked the end of their unique environment. Thanks to the efforts of a small group of dedicated individuals, including John Armstrong and Jim Poor, Lee Steen's creations have been preserved for future generations..." The Paris Gibson Museum Of Art 
From the looks of his figures he found limbs from the trees that formed an almost human shape with two legs and a long upper body. 
Out of all the art that was in the museum I remember his the most. The figures actually wrapped around the entire room. They had pictures on the wall of where the figures sat in the yard when they found them. You can tell which ones were outside sitting along the trees because all of their paint has come off. The ones that still had paint on them were not exposed to the Montana weather. What I thought was really fun was that the buttons on their jackets and shirts were all made of bottle caps. You can actually read some of them and they are really old! Also there was a piece where the guy he had made was missing a leg. He chose a limb, missing a limb! 

Also I wanted to share this picture that was sent to me. The painting in the middle is the one that I painted. The owners framed it and hung it on their living room wall. It looks very nice. I am glad they liked it. 

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Crochet Pattern - Tulip Square

Tulip Square Skill level: Hard Work in rows.  Use three Colors Chg = Change Using color A, make 26 ch.  Row 1. 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook., 1 sc in each of 24 ch, 25 sc. (Turning ch does not count as a st in
this pattern).  Row 2. Ch 1. 1 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each sc to end. 25 sc. On rows 23, enclose (carry yarn) color not in use by working over it until it is required. For more information please click here - How to carry yarn Row 3. Read chart row 3 from right to left. In A, 1 ch, 1 sc in each of 11 sc. chg to B, 1 sc in each of 3 sc, chg to A, 1 sc in each of 11 sc.  Row 4. Reach chart row 4 from left to right this time. In A, 1 ch, 1 sc in each of 9 sc, chg to B, 1 sc in each of the 7 sc, chg to A, 1 sc in each of 9 sc. Continue reading from chart rows 5-23 in this way, changing colors from A,B and C as indicated. 

Rows 24 - 25. In A. as row 2. Fasten off A. Join B to last sc of row 25.  Edging Round. 1 ch, 1 sc in each of 24 sc, 2 ch, 1 sc, in side edge of each of 25 rows, 2 ch. 1 sc in base of each of 25 sts, 2 ch, 1 sc in side edge of each of 25 rows, 2 ch, ss in first ch. 25 sc on each side. Fasten off B.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if you have found an error in the pattern. This pattern is free and not to be sold in anyway. I did not write this pattern. It was take from 75 Floral blocks to Crochet by Betty Barnden. 
Be sure to check out my free Baby Doll Dress pattern on CRAFTSY! Baby Doll Dress! Free Crochet Pattern!

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Crochet Pattern - Large Flower Hexagon

LARGE FLOWER HEXAGON Skill Level - Intermediate. Working in the round.  Two colors. (if you want) Using color A - Ch. 8 and join into a ring with ss in first ch.  ROUND 1. 3 ch. 1 tr into ring. (2 ch, 2 tr tog into ring) 11 times, 2 ch, ss in first tr of round.  ROUND 2. Ss into 2 ch sp, 1 ch, (5 ch, 1 sc, in next 2-ch sp) 11 times, 5 ch, ss in first ch of round.  ROUND 3. Ss into each of 2 ch, 1 ch, *1 sc in same 5-ch sp, (5 ch, 1 sc in next 5-ch sp) # 2 twice, * rep from * to * 4 more times, then once again from * to #, 2 ch, 1 dc in first ch of round.  ROUND 4. *(5 dc, 3 ch, 5 dc) in 10-ch loop, 1 sc in next 5-ch sp, (2 dc, 1ch, 2 dc) in next sc, 1 sc in next 5-ch sp, *rep from * to * 5 more times omitting last sc of final rep, ss in first dc of round. Fasten off. Join color B to 3-ch sp at tip of any petal.  ROUND 5. 1 ch, * 5 ch, (1 tr, 3 ch, 1 tr) in next 1-ch sp, 5 ch, 1 sc in next 3-ch sp* rep from * to * 5 more times omitting last sc of final rep, ss in first ch of round.  ROUND 6. Ss into 5-ch sp, 1 ch, 4 sc in same sp. * 1 sc in tr; 5 sc in 5-ch sp, 2 ch, sk 1 sc, # 5 sc in 5-ch sp * rep from * to * 4 more times then once again from * to #, ss in first ch of round. 15 sts on each side. Fasten off.  If you find a mistake please let me know! :) 
Be sure to check out my free Baby Doll Dress pattern on CRAFTSY! Baby Doll Dress! Free Crochet Pattern! First Time Orders FREE SHIPPING WITH CODE - FIRSTREP at checkout! Frankie's Avon Page
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Here are some cute little memes I found... 

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Summer is here! And I need to prepare for it. Mentally!

I am not really looking forward to the heat this summer. It is coming! Last year I was miserable. I fell into a bit of a depression and was suffering from extreme allergies for the first time in my life. I couldn't go to the store or anything. I felt so stupid. What is also upsetting when you are like that is that people tend to avoid you! They think that you are sick or something but you are not. Just suffering from allergies. It seemed like the summer was worse than ever. The heat seemed to affect me twice as much as anyone else.  I feel so sorry for those of you out there have to deal with allergies. Thankfully this summer it just happens off and on and doesn't last for very long and my depression is not bothering me right now. Very happy. I am working on making sure I stay happy and find the positive in everything so that this summer is bearable. I know that may not make sense to some of you - but it really does make a difference. If you find the negative constantly in everything then everything will suck no matter if you once loved it before. I have got to stay positive. 

PS sunblock helps too! :) Actually makes your skin feel cooler and then you don't seem to get so hot so fast. Well that is my personal experience anyway ;) 

Be safe this summer! <3 XO

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How I Make My Sewing Patterns Larger

How I make My Sewing Patterns Larger - 

What you will need - FREEZER PAPER, PENCIL, CARBON PAPER and SCISSORS. 

I pinned the outer edges of the pattern to the freezer paper. Then I slid my carbon paper under the middle and slowly traced the line of the size that I wanted till I ran out of carbon paper... 

Then I slid the carbon paper over and continued from where I had previous ran out. I even trace all the little markings and words.. So I don't get lost... 

This is a little harder to see but here is a picture of the traced pattern.. 

I then cut it out.. and very sloppy like labeled them! Here is a small and a medium. 

I guess you don't have to cut the patterns out if you don't want to but I do. You could still pin it uncut to the paper and then carefully do it that way.. But this is easier for me right now.. 

I hope this helped you! :) 

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Pretty Egg Carton Lights!

I decided to try a pinterest project that I saw. I have tried a couple and I have only really enjoyed ... this one! I love my lights! 
Now I had to kinda figure out what they were doing and I didn't want you to have that same issue so I went step by step to show you what I, myself had done (with a little help from my eldest daughter). 

First thing that I did was take an old steak knife and cut along the middle of the egg carton slots. I didn't worry about the flat part as much.. Just the part that is protruding out because its really hard to cut those with scissors. So here is one side.. then I flipped it around... 

And I did the same thing going the other way. Um yea.. There is a little bit of egg on that one! Oh well. I will just keep moving forward. 

Now that I have all the middles sliced out.. I took off the sides. So that just those middle little hills with the holes in them are remaining. 

Then I used the scissors to cut them all out individually. 

I was doing them alone and it was taking me a very long time so I recruited my eldest daughter to help me while she is home from college for the summer. Here she is rounding off the tops to make them look more like a petal. You could probably leave them just like this too if you wanted.

They are stacking up! 

Time for the paint! 

I painted them inside and out. I used a metallic copper color for the entire "flower". Then a gold for the rim of the petals. And last but not least I used a clear gold colored glitter paint to put on the inside for more shimmer. 

Here they are drying. They were all on a plate and it actually looked like food! All the paint that I put on the cartons ended up stiffening the flowers so that made me happy. I thought they were going to be more fragile then they turned out to be. 

Here is my hand after doing some painting. It looked like I was turning to copper slowly. 

After a night of drying.. I slid them onto the lights! I was thinking about gluing them on.. but decided not to. Just slid them on. I had to use the scissors and cut little slits by the holes so they would fit on better. 

They are pretty! 

 I like them.

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