Paint the back panel and sides of the frame with the acrylic paint color of your choosing (pictured is Americana Lemon Yellow mixed with FolkArt Pearl White. Its best to make the paint layers as even as possible for consistent cutting later in the process. Set aside to dry. 

Place the entire piece, painted back panel side up, into the XTool machine.  On a new workspace, import the file above named “consider how the wildflowers grow”. If you are using an 8" x 8" piece, no changes to the scale are necessary.  However, if you use a larger or smaller piece and change the scale of the design, please check to see that you are happy with the size of the holes for the flower stems or adjust them as necessary. 

After marking your workspace and applying your settings, begin processing the piece.  

After saving your work above, open a new workspace and import the file above named “wildflower keeper sign back slats.”  These pieces will allow air to flow yet hold stems down so the flowers sit better in the piece. The pieces I am showing in the pic are scraps I had available.  The scraps you use or pieces you cut do not really need to be painted.  Use the permanent glue of your choice to attach the slats ( I use Loctite Professional).

Use 2 screw eyes, one at each end of the piece.  Screw them in part way, then remove them and add a drop of permanent glue in the hole. Immediately reinsert the screw eye and finish rotating it into place. Cut 20" of thin wrapping wire (I used copper covered aluminum so it will not oxidize outside) and string some glass bead on one half of it.  Fold the other half over so the ends meet and then give the two wires a twist to trap the beads along it. Insert each end of the twisted wire into each of the screw eyes to create a hanger. Pull the ends through and again twist them around the hanger portion to secure. 

Wipe the piece front and back to remove any char or dust and let dry.  Apply a minimum of three coats of polyurethane  or other water resistant sealer (should also be UV resistant).  Remember to let it dry well between each coat.  I prefer to spray the sealer vs brushing to avoid picking up residual char or other dust/brush particles and spreading them around.  

This piece can be used indoors and out but will hold up best if not continuously exposed to the elements. Enjoy! <3