I'm making a cake for my husband's 30th next week. I have 2 issues I can't quite figure out or I've come up with an answer but I'm hoping someone out there has something better.

1 - I've made a key chain and 2 keys out of gumpaste. I also made a key ring out of gumpaste but it keeps breaking when I try to fit in the keys and key chain. If I try and fit the keys in while it's still pliable, the shape will be all crazy. If i wait till it's dry, it'll break. The only thing I could think of is using actual wire and finding some kind that's food safe if I can. The key chain is important because it's a mascot and the keys are symbolic too so I need to have them both. Anyone else have ideas?

2 - I'd like to make a book that's open, but not open like the book pan. The idea is for the book to be open at the first page. How do I create the book cover so that it stays in place and looks right? It's a 3 tier cake, so there will be 2 other "closed books" under the top tier which is the open book.

ANY ideas would really help. TIA.