I am going to cover my foam board with fondant so my questions are...
I don't need to cover it first like I normally do because the fondant serves are the board covering correct?

Do I need to cut a circle in the middle to place the cake or can I just set the decorated cake onto the fondant?

I don't have piping gel so can I use water or tylose glue to attach it to the board?

Okay I think that is it.
I'm sure I am making it out to be harder then it really is.

You're right, it's not that hard

I just put the piece of fondant directly onto the board. No gel, no glue, and I don't roll it out first...just plop it into the middle of the board and start rolling. It will stick itself down. Just roll it every direction until the board is covered, then rub your hands over it until it's smooth.

Some people cut a hole for the cake. I don't. The more height, the better, in my opinion. So I cover the board with fondant, then the cake sits on its own board cut to the exact size of the cake, and that goes on top of the fondant-covered board.

I use tacky glue to attach ribbon to the edge of the board...just put the board on your turntable, assuming it's big enough to hang over the edges of the turntable, put the glue bottle tip against the side of the board, start squeezing and turn the board. Then keep it on the turntable while you stick the ribbon to the glue.

I've heard of using straight pins or double sided tape to attach the ribbon too.

Sweet, okay I'm going to try it!
I am such a creature of habit that it is very hard for me to try new things, if it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto.
But the fondant covered boards look sooo pretty and finished.
I'll try not to have a panic attack about my change in routine .
Thanks!

btw: we used to have a river house in Concan right outside of SA, good times

You can just grease your palms up with Crisco and rub it all over the board too to get your fondant to stick to it.

To answer your questions:
1. To cover your board in fondant : apply a little coat of shortening to your board so the fondant will stick, Leave center of baoard without shortening. Roll out your fondant the size of your board and place fondant on board. After smoothing, cut around board edges for a soft finish. Place a circle the same size as the cake you are placing on the board covered with fondant and cut this portion out.
Your cake should be on a board of it's own. Now place some double sided tape in the hole you cut and place your cake on top of the that. your cake should be sitting nicely in it's place.

I go to the trouble of cutting that hold in the fondant just because I almost always travels with my cakes and I'm afraid the cake will slide off the fondant covered board.

And I just want to add, and I mean this in a good way... I remember you asking similar questions before! You are one of the most talented decorators EVER! I LOVE your designs. With your talent you will have NO trouble with this. STOP WORRYING about this fondant covered board thing. You are gonna be so mad at yourself when you see how dang easy this is!!! Really!!

I roll my fondant out with PS or CS or a mix of the two. So i lightly hit the board with my water spritzer and viola lay it on and it's stuck like glue. Same with the cake boards I stack onto that, because I don't cut a hole out. A Light spritz and place it down, stuck like glue. Easy peasy!!! Youare gonna feel silly after you do it. he he

Cutting out the area where the cake will be saves on fondant That's what I always read......

It's not hard to transfer the cake. Do the boards a couple days in advance if you can, and they'll be dry enough that your fingers won't dent them. If the fondant on the cake comes up a little bit at the bottom edge when you put it on the board, use your bench scraper to tuck it back under.

And if you let the boards sit in a dark place to dry a bit you won't knick them up when putting a cake on them and you can wipe them off f need be so long as you use a gentle touch.

Yeah, I forgot that... I use Everclear to wipe off boos boos.