i use 6mm wood. that is thick enough to stand alone
I created the deer with an AI
my prompt was
simple SVG of a deer head with a view from the front
in xcs i have created 1 rectangle
there outline -5mm
then again outline -5mm
the two inner outlines marked and compound vector created and set to engrave
adjusted text and image
i pre-treated the wood with a white stain from unicorn spit