hello guys wondering if anyone can help, this is my first post by the way and I live in the UK! My neice wants a shoe cake for her birthday, which will be my first, but any ideas how you would would create a snake skin effect in rolled fondant

thanks

I would try to Google "fondant impression mat" or "snakeskin impression" or something like that. You would roll out the fondant, then rub the impression mat over it to give it the right texture, then gently smooth it on your cake. If you can't find anything online, maybe be creative and find something really textured and wash it really well.

I would say you need only a piece of plastic netting - here you can buy it either as bath "sponge" or soap net - this one http://www.fipetmost.cz/foto-detail.php?id=1732&type=detail
Roll your out fondant, lay out the net on it. With rolling pin roll lightly over it. Don't stress perfect alignment of the net - it looks better if it is randomly stretched out.
Take it off.
Color it like snake skin -

Good luck with your cake!