I made a Suitcase cake a few weeks back and had tons of questions on how It was made to look so realistic. Here is a link to a mini demo of that proccess. I hope you like it and find it helpfull.
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazycakesinc?feature=mhee#p/a

Wonderful suitcase! I love the lady eating the cake in your video

Hey Brian,

Do you suggest cutting the crocodile mat smaller.I have a 6x12 and need to do a T-Rex cake in a few weeks and want that pattern on the fondant...Will it still work if I cut it into small squares.

No. If it is bigger just stamp what you need into the fondant and cover the cake.

You can also get some fake alligator skin vinyl from a fabric shop or hobby store and use that.

Hmm..I never thought of that but I may get a swatch from the fabric store...I don't know why they don't make some of these mats in soft flexible silicone...I have tried stamping the fondant and then covering the cake but I end up smoothing most of the pattern away with my hands trying to get the fondant into the grooves etc...any tips?

if your impression mat is not deep in texture, push real hard, or roll on top of it. when you wrap the cake try not to streach it too much or over work/smooth it.