I love the 3D look I achieved from the patterns I purchase from https://www.etsy.com/shop/805LaserSpot. I have purchased several and always get great reviews from others who have seen the results. I use scrap wood that I get from mills in the area. Here you can see the difference the type of wood makes.
I think they both look great is the first one basswood? That really engraves well. But I prefer the second one. The darker color gives it a greater sense of gravitas befitting the topic. And I love the interesting grain.
Great job, I Like both of them. It also inspired me to try “All Gave Some, Some Gave All” design from 805 Laser Spot’s designs. The design was engraved on birch plywood then stained, rubbed with steel wool, painted black then sanded and sealed. to give it that WW1 ink stamped weathered crate look. Going to hang it up in the shop with a rusty bent nail, so it looks like its been there for a hundred years.