They don't look THAT awful!! If you want brighter colors, I would use less color. Also, I have metal molds so I bend them before each use to lay flat. I also do not cook mine as long as the BC site says. Yours look like they cooked to long. And like others have said, I also trim off any weird excess if it bothers me. I know the first time I made these, they looked worse than yours. I cooked them way too long and the colors were supposed to be a bright blue and red. I got gross and grosser!! But I cut way back on the colors and have not had a problem since. Also, I sometimes use the powdered dyes and will get some cool variations. Good luck and just try again!!