Using this unfinished wood garden gnome silhouette for your DIY project is easy. First, peel off the protective paper backing that's there to keep the wood safe during cutting and shipping. You can customize it by adding a hole if you want - just tell the seller the size and location. As for sizes, you've got options from 3' up to 36'. The wood is sanded and has lightly burned edges from cutting. When it comes to thickness, it's cut from 1/8 (3mm), 1/4 (6mm) or 1/2 (12mm) inch cabinet - grade Baltic birch plywood. If you need a different thickness, reach out to the seller. To maintain it, keep it in a dry place to avoid warping. And remember, all these products are hand - made in the Pittsburgh suburbs, so you're getting a quality item made with care.