I needed somthing that would last in the weather so after carving and mounting, I covered it with Epoxy Resin. Now it not only looks good but the wood is sealed. It Should last a while.Sorry about the clarity of the photos.
I like the effect too. Its the first time I've tried it on a PhotoVcarve project. After this though, I'm sure I'll use it again. It looks like glass.
It is appox 1/16 " thick.
To tell the truth, I'm not sure about the long term effects of weather. The place that this one is used however is in a shaded area and will get minimum rain on it. The Epoxy is a commercial grade and has a non-yellowing agent added to it. I used it on a small table that has been on my screened porch and is has gotton rained on many times over the past 3 years and it still looks good. So I'm hoping for the best.