To achieve a pristine golden laser cut, I opt for a high-power laser setting coupled with swift speed and multiple passes. I have a neat trick up my sleeve: I duplicate the cutout, resulting in three images in total. Each image is then color-coded: Red, Blue, and Green.

For the Red image, I crank up the Power to 90%, set the Speed to 40, and adjust the Pass to 5. When it comes to the Blue image, I max out the Power at 100%, maintain the Speed at 40, and reduce the Pass to 3, while also lowering the focus to 3mm. As for the Green image, it's also at 100% Power and 40 Speed, with a Pass of 4, and the focus set to 6mm.

These settings might take a bit longer to cut through the pine, but the end result? A flawlessly smooth cut, free from any unsightly charring.

Be sure to use the alignment tool to set each image perfectly on top of each other.

After the base is cut, I spray painted it gold.

Now, let's tackle cutting out the hornet. I've chosen 1/8" maple plywood for the job. Once the hornet is cut out, I organize the pieces into three groups: white, black, and yellow. Each group gets a coat of spray paint before I put them back together on the medallion base.

Once the cutting and painting are done, it's time to assemble everything. We kick things off by gluing the rhinestones onto the base. Create a border of black stones, gradually transitioning to gold stones leading up to the hornet. Once everything is in place and securely glued, it's time for the finishing touch: a generous coat of water-based polyurethane applied over the entire project. After allowing it to dry, your masterpiece is ready to be admired!