Basic advice needed, help!

[jennyr]

Hi I'm new to the forum and sugarcraft. After spending over £20 on some roses to decorate a cake for a friend I thought I'd have a go at making some of my own, purely for the satisfaction of being able to say yes when asked if I made them I've fallen at the first hurdle though, after rolling my petals on foam as per the instructions I couldn't get them off it with out stretching or tearing. What am I do wrong? At the moment I'm very disheartened and thinking £22 wasn't bad for 32 roses but feel very guilty as the box arrived with 'hand made in the phillipines' on so really would like to make my own.

[emmascakes.co.uk]

When I make roses I use two different methods. One is using an all-in-one rose cutter which is ace - it cutes out five petals that you simply roll round each other. I used that for the roses on the white wedding cake which you can find on: www.emmascakes.co.uk

The other method is rolling each petal out. I roll mine out on a dusted work top, but apparently people also use vegetable shortening to grease the surface and stop the paste cracking. I haven't used a mat but I would suggest maybe you need to put icing sugar on the mat to stop the petals sticking. And don't get in a tizz about making roses just yet - I had to give up and resort to the cutter, they look so simple - but it's all a trick!

[rach]

Emmas tips are great..also I onl use the foam mat to curl my petals not to roll on..use a nonstick board for that.....
Foam pads are for curling and shaping ..putting under the flower when working just in case you drop it..which I always do....so it wont break.
If you try that way you will have no probs...so roll on non stick board with icig sugar or veg fat wot ever you prefer I use icing suger a tiny amount though and then shape curl if you need to on your foam pad then make into yr rose.
Hope that helps

[dkcrooby]

Hi,

Interesting you both use icing sugar. I would have thought it to be too sticky. I use cornflour and white flora.

Shianne

[rach]

only use a tiny amount....cornfour for me dries the paste out..but I think everyone finds the best for them..have tried the flora but didnt work for me..lol.....

[emmascakes.co.uk]

Cornflour sets my teeth on edge which is why I don't use it. It sqeaks and even thinking of it makes me curl up

[dkcrooby]

I get the same when a grain of sand is underneath the glass chopping board, arghhhhhh!

[jennyr]

Thanks I'll have another go then before I throw the towel in :-)

[dkcrooby]

It'll be worth it when you see how good they look. I was sooo disappointed with my first roses but once you add colour, it totally transforms them, so wait until they're totally finished before you chuck it all in!