Any ideas on how I can obtain an elephant impression or outline on the sides of a cake iced with fondant? A stamp or cookie cutter, perhaps? And, do I imprint before placing the fondant on the cake or after? I haven't been able to find an elephant stamp!

Could you make a gum paste elephant? I recently made one for a baby shower cake. So cute, stamping side to get impression is a good idea.

Other than flowers, I haven't made gum paste shapes, yet. I have an elephant mold, but the impression would be so much more elegant. 

You could trace over a picture of an elephant using baking paper, and then put the tracing on the cake and run around the line with the back of a paintbrush or something... make sure the pencil line is facing out or you'll trace pencil marks onto you lovely cake :)

Thanks! I will try this.