Hello all,
I need a big rant to get the frustration off my chest! I was on here asking how to colour gumpaste for a red rose i will be doing. I was thinking getting the red will be my only problem. I practised with a white gumpaste i bought from my local cake shop (was expensive) but i made some not too bad looking roses. Then i went online and ordered the Wilton white gumpaste and coloured it red the night before and let it sit all wrapped up so that the colour can develop.
Last night i tried to make the roses and for 4 hours tried all i can to get the gumpaste to work to no avail. First it is a bit soft and looks very oily. i roll it out abd try to thin the edges with the ball toll and it sticks to the ball tool and just wouldnt curl up. I thought maybe i added too much colour and decided to use the white remnant in the bag but it does exactly the same thing. I added lots of PS to see if it will help but no way. i gave up after 4 hrs of getting no single rose for my efforts.

Please any advice on how to avoid this in the future and what type of gumpaste that i can use that will work better. I am off to buy some roses for the cake as i am so tired of that damn fondant.

Calm down now...
Thanks for any advice

I have been told to just corn flour with gumpaste, that usually helps. Sorry I can't offer any more advice as I am new

Was it raining/really humid? Gumpaste can be a bit(h to work with when it is.

When making red roses, i start with satin ice red fondant, and add tylose to it. I then don't have to color it and it sets up pretty well. Only problem is if you have a very humid environment it may not work for you.

If you haven't pitched your gumpaste yet, try adding a little corn starch to it and see if that helps.

okay, thanks. i will try using fondant and tylose and see if that works for me. I havent attempted making my own gumpaste yet? Does homemade ones work for anyone?

The only gumpaste I have ever used is Nicholas Lodge's recipe. It works really well and is inexpensive to make. If you google it, you will find the recipe. Good luck!

If i make homemade gumpaste, and i need a dark red, i will omit some of the water and replace with the color (this goes for any dark color and i do the same if i'm making hm fondant too) Then finish making the paste as directed.

I love Wilton pre-made gum paste. I knead in the tiniest bit of shortening and get a wonderful silky product.

Adding a lot of liquid color to any gum paste, even Nick Lodge's recipe, can make it go funky.

To get nice red roses, it's best to start with pink gum paste, dust them red, and then steam.

HTH
Rae