Did you leave them exposed to sunlight? I keep my royal icing flowers in a tupperware container in the closet so light doesn't get to them. The light will fade them really quickly. Sorry about your flowers. 
I was told by my instructer that. Royal fades and turns out lighter and to make it darker. She said just the opposite for buttercream. Hope that helps. 
Does anyone besides me not like the idea of putting hard flowers on a cake? I remember as a child getting a bakery cake and loving sucking on the rock-hard roses ... but that doesn't appeal to me as an adult! lol
I wonder how many other teens are on this site?
I am baffled with using royal icing.... is it just a well-known fact that you have to pull them all off before serving? The same with fondant - I have seen people "pull' back the fondant and eat the cake underneath. It seems like such a shame - of course, my kids love fondant! They want me to color it and let them use it like Play-doo.... that they can eat, of course! Helloooooooo Sugar-high!
Maybe I should let them do this right before they go to their Dad's house?
Ok..... I'm just kidding... really 
I promise 
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