Does anyone out there hate making roses as much as I do?? I have been decorating for 3 years and I HATE THEM. I really cringe when people ask for them on a cake. UGH!!
What type of roses? Buttercream or gumpaste? I like making BC roses, but I had a very hard time doing gumpaste ones. This week I spent some time in my garden looking at the way my roses grow and tried to do one looking like one out the tree. This is what I did..... I would say be very patient.....
holy moly!! that looks like you just plucked it out of your garden!! i'm drooling in jealousy lol
I don't mind making them but would rather not, I'm making my friends wedding cake in April and she wants roses made from flowerpaste (not sure if thats the same as your gumpaste)
I've worked out that the cake will need about 25 full roses all burgandy (which is a horrible colour to work with, I think so anyway 
) and i'll have to make a few spare just in case any get broken.
I've made the cones and will get started on the roses soon so i'm not doing them all at the last minute
I luv them! I think they are top on the list of cadillac decorating skills. I'd much rather do a cake with BC roses than real or silk roses.
My very first wedding cake was taking place in a rose garden and she wanted the cake COVERED in BC roses. I had never made one before in my life, but by the time I was done with that cake, I considered myself an expert! 
I think that's why I luv them ..... mine was learned "by fire" ... jump in and swim and there AIN'T no time for a swimming lesson!
I recently learned the make-them-on-a-stick method and that is even easier!
I can do good roses because I teach classes and have to but I did go through some struggles, especially icing consistency which is VERY important. The Wilton ready made buttercream is perfect for roses so if icing may be a problem get a can of theirs just tp practice and also to compare consistency. Whip it up before you use it. I find in my classes that consistency is the biggest challenge.
Have a look at this decorator on Youtube. She must work in a bakery to get that good. I have started doing my roses like this now and love it much better than the nail method.
OMG....that lady just did that cake in under 4 minutes. I couldn't believe how fast she did the border. Next time I have to do roses, I think I will try that dowel method.
I have never mastered buttercream flowers, so it is gumpaste or fresh on my cakes!
londonpeach, are you coloring your flowerpaste before you use it or are you using petal dust afterward? If you dust and steam the flowers, you can get beautiful deep colors without much effort.
I am colouring the flowerpaste 
I will try the steam method another time, i've shown my friend the finished rose so I don't want to change it now and im used to my way
When you say you dust them after...do you just use white paste then dust the colour you want then steam..don't they go soft 
Does the dust colour not go onto the white cake... just thought, it probably doesn't as i do use dust colours on flowers sometimes.
I love making roses or any flower with gumpaste/flowerpaste, I do color my paste but I also dust with dusts & steam them for a few seconds. On page 2 in my photo's there are a few sprays of roses. The secret to making good flowers or leaves is to roll the paste very thin & use a ball tool to thin the petals & give them shape. I have never made BC roses, but I have made RI ones.
superstar, your flowers are simply gorgeous. I have taught myself what I know about gumpaste flowers, but haven't ever had any instruction. I am taking Nicholas Lodge's Tropical Flowers class in Austin ... in NINE DAYS and I am very excited. I would be thrilled if I could make flowers that are half as pretty as yours are! 
I have to be honest... I haven't made them since my Wilton class.... like 5 years ago I did need them in a pinch and didn't have time to wait for them to set up so I ran to my local cake craft store and bought theirs.... I know, I know, SHAMEFUL! 
mbt4955, thank you for those lovely comments. You are very fortunate to be doing a class with Nick Lodge, he is one of the best. My idol for anything floral is Alan Dunn, I have all his books & follow his instructions, the only lessons I have ever had were from my sister, she in turn had never had lessons. Let us know all about your classes.
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