I hate making Roses!
I am new to fondant. I am trying to make roses and I absolutely hate the way they look.
If I roll the fondant out thin, thin, thin, I cant get them to hold their shape. They droop. I go thicker and they look so fake. Right now I am using a circle fondant cutter.
I tried the stick method, not workingI cant make the buttercream Wilton roses. I am at a loss. I am ready to give up.
I have been trying for 4 weeks. I really want to make a special cake for my daughters birthday and I am running out of time and patience. CC Help Me!!!!
I probably should have mentioned, I am using MMF, is that a no no for roses? 
I feel your pain!!! It takes a lot of practice for roses ... I'm still not where I would like to be with them. For realistic roses you have to use gumpaste that dries quickly and very hard - this way you can make the petals paper thin. If you want to use fondant, do a search for 'Duff's Roses' on here and play around with that method. I did some that way (crunched for time) this past weekend and thinned the edges of the petals with my fingers and added a couple more on each rose after the intial 3 circles were put together and they didn't look toooo fake.
HTH
I'm right there with you on this one. I found these roses quite interesting though. Maybe you could try them.
Heres the link
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-482163.html
Worth a shot.
Angela
It sounds like you need to add some gumpaste. It will help them dry faster and they will hold their shape better.
I don't have time right now to search for it (gotta take 1st grader to school...) but you could try making some duff style roses. They are super easy.... somewhat more realistic than ribbon roses and so cute. 3 circles rolled together. Search the forums for "duff roses" SweetAlamo did a picture tutorial in her photos if you can find them.
You need to us a 50/50 mixture of fondant and gumpaste, or you can mix some tylose in the fondant, this helps the fondant dry faster and keeps its shape. Now some here have use powder fixodent, you mix that in right before you foll out fondant. This too will keep shape and help dry.
here is a link to at roses to make:
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-482163.html
here is another link, her roses are beautiful you can get some tips here:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-469353-.html
the link that help her
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/409694647SCfrnv
Definitely try gumpaste. I recently made roses from gumpaste for a wedding cake I made and I like them so much better than the fondant ones. You can roll it thinner and it still holds its shape plus it does dry rock hard instead of sort of hard like fondant.
I bought Wilton's pre-made gumpaste that is ready to go so I didn't have to mix anything myself (except I added some color) - worked great.
Note**** I learned the hard way that if they are left out on the counter, especially in sunlight, they fade! I had to make a whole second batch - which I kept covered in a layer of tin foil so that it still could dry and those were fine.
I know you're going for realistic looking roses, but rolled ribbon roses are a nice alternative. Here is a video link that shows you how to make them. BTW - I can make 10 or more ribbon roses in the time it take to make one realistic rose.
http://www.cakejournal.com/2007/06/how-to-make-ribbon-rose-in-40-sec.html
Here are two of my favorite cakes I made with rolled ribbon roses.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=793923
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=699893
I'm with getfrosted the Duff Rose is a nice choice inbetween a ribbon rose and regular rose. I made some last night for a strawberry basket cake. I will post a pic later today of them.
How easy are they?
Well it was my first time making MMF and first time making Duff rose, I had a 6 month and a 2 year old son in the kitchen with me and I still was able to make 7 finished roses in 30 minutes.
Tip: after layering your three circles use a spoon to flatten outside edges (petals) before rolling
I am new also, but this is what worked for me.
I'm sure your roses will come out beautiful no matter which way you choose.
Tamara
If you are asking about the ribbon roses, then the answer is yes. I have made with 100% fondant to 100% gumpaste and every combination in between.
Thank you!!! I love working with gumpaste, and to make the roses with gumpaste they can be rolled really thin and dry really fast. I can not wait to try this out....thanks soo much 
Thanks Tamara! I have a soon to be 5 year old and 2 year old. I know what you are saying! I usually start working on this when they are in bed. I can't wait to see your picture later!
I'm with getfrosted the Duff Rose is a nice choice inbetween a ribbon rose and regular rose. I made some last night for a strawberry basket cake. I will post a pic later today of them.
How easy are they?
Well it was my first time making MMF and first time making Duff rose, I had a 6 month and a 2 year old son in the kitchen with me and I still was able to make 7 finished roses in 30 minutes.
Tip: after layering your three circles use a spoon to flatten outside edges (petals) before rolling
I am new also, but this is what worked for me.
I'm sure your roses will come out beautiful no matter which way you choose.
Tamara
Ahhh well I just delivered the cake for my mom's dinner party (17 older ladies) and I forgot my camera to take a pic!!!! Well I used my mom's camera and she Promised my dad would email the pictures tommorrow.
I can't wait to post the picture. It's one of those cakes that isn't the greatest cake ever made, but you are so proud of it you can't wait to post a pic of it.
Another medium that I found a lot of success with for making roses was white chocolate modeling paste. Using fondant and gumpaste proved frustrating and unsuccessful for me as well, but you can see in my pics the rose I made from the chocolate modeling paste (also referred to as candy clay). Here is the recipe:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-2091-White-Chocolate-Paste---For-Making-Roses.html
I used this link as an idea on how to do roses and still would like to improve.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-469353-.html
then looked at the webshots in that forum and went from there.
Here is the link that I posted after reading and following these instructions. I used plastic spoons up the opposite way to what it said then just waited long enough for the petals to hold shape.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-474433-.html
Hope this helps.
[Hi Kelli - Wow, you sure have come a long way. Your roses are beautiful.
I know it will take practice and I may need to use a combination of methods to make it work for me. You have inspired me not to give up.
Thanks and again, your roses are beautiful!
Jeanene
Thank you very much Jeanene.
Don't give up, you will find a way thats works for you. Like you said you might be able to mix a few methods to find the style thats suits you. I mostly find pictures more helpful than words, because it can get too confusing sometimes. Keep playing, its fun and who knows we might learn something along the way. 
Cheers
mazaryk - Wow that really came out cute! I can see the roses and I like them.
I have been experimenting with all different techniques and I like the results I have been getting. You should try the chocolate modeling clay. I found the receipt on Wilton's site. Candy melts and corn syrup, that is it. They are super easy and very, very tasty!
I will send you a picture of the cake when I am done. I am still practicing, my daughters birthday is a couple of weeks off still.
Thanks again for the help!
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