My first big cake decorating contest is this weekend - the New Mexico State Fair. I've been planning my wedding cake entry for MONTHS. We aren't talking ICES or OSSAS...a contest solely for amateurs (finally, I have a silver lining to living in the only county in the whole state without a cottage food law!).
I scoped out supplies, carefully measured the dimensions of cake dummy sizes and shapes, and drew/re-drew my design about ten times.
I'm sitting here looking at it and want to cry. The accent pieces all came out great; even the rope border turned out surprisingly even. But I look at the fondant on those dummies, and well, it makes ME feel like the DUMMY! Elephant skin, a few cracks. I was so careful smoothing it out - how could I be so blind to not notice before now?
Trying to redesign a little coverup to fix the blemishes. I feel like throwing it out and burning it, but no time to redo the whole thing. Plus, I don't think the fondant/gumpaste will adhere to BC.
Please send me some good CC vibes...I could really use a morale boost about now.... 
Wish I could help - but sending good thoughts your way!!
i know exactly what you mean! i entered my first cake show contest last february and my fondant covered dummies had elephant skin too ... i was already committed, so the best i could do was try to fill in some of the cracks with melted fondant. it turned out just fine, the judges even said it was flawless. you see a lot more problems in your own work than others! take a deep breath and give yourself some credit and a pat on the back!
Wow...I didn't know that you can fill in cracks with melted fondant! Thanks for posting that! I'm sure going to use that trick!
it was a last ditch effort. i melted a little fondant with some water until it was the consistency of Elmer's glue. i used a paintbrush to gently fill in some of the cracks. it's not perfect, but sometimes it helps.
sponge it! Great fix for bad fondant! Get the petal or luster dust of you choice and make a very thin mix with vodka. dip a balled up paper towel in it and sponge the cake. it will be wet and shiny at first but then dry to a mat/faux finish. You can also use the airbrush sheens right out of the bottle for this, or dilute them with vodka too. practice on scraps till you get the amount of coverage you want. hides tons of flaws!!!
HTH
examples here:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1234463
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=50108
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pl0c6tYw-Qc/S6ApmlA-9GI/AAAAAAAACEs/nFEtOW83Fyk/s1600-h/uc39.JPG
Just a quick update - I was able to combine several of the suggestions and guess what?
I won Best in Show today!
Thank you again - you are each very kind to share your tricks of the trade, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you!
Thanks again
Dana/Blueburd
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