Dear Cake Decorators,

I need some help.  I have to produce a suitcase cake but would like to cover in royal icing and use fondant or gum paste to make the embellishment and the strap for the cake.  Can u advise is it better to cover the cake with buttercream icing and use fondant or use royal icing and use fondant.  Help pls

Geetanjali

Best option is likely ice in buttercream, cover in fondant, and decorate with fondant. 

Next best is ice in buttercream and add fondant decos. 

Only cover in royal if it's a fruitcake--cover cake in marzipan, ice in royal with some glyercin added, and then add fondant decos.