any special tips for making these? I tried one following directions in a book and they didn't look right. It sounds easy, but it wasn't as easy as I thought.

Just roll a strip of fondant fold in half lengthwise. Makeing sure to leave the folded edge uncreased. Then fold the end of the strip down to cover the raw edge, then roll up loosely so that the rose forms.

You either roll it tightly or loose...either way will look pretty. These (pink roses) were rolled loosely towards the end. This green cake was made by Prettycake..

Colettes rolls hers loose towards the end.

I followed a picture on a box of Wilton fondant and a picture out of one of Wilton's books - they aren't as easy as they look in my opinion either
I did find that if I rolled the fondant thinner then rolled up the rose, they came out better

This might help:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-53955-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-53953-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-52220-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-42706-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-39012-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-14014-.html

They're not really rolled, they're more of a 'wild' rose.