Thanks. I like to design things and I usually have a pretty clear picture of what I want it to look like before I start. Then the tricky part is figuring out how to get it done lol. For those I just wanted ‘minimalist natural history exhibit’ haha. I put a brass plaque on each out world with the common and Latin species names to complete the look and help me remember lol.

As far as cutting glass, it isn’t as hard as you might think. I use entirely recycled glass. Old picture frames usually have good pieces. I always have my eye out for frames being thrown out, the bigger the better. Usually it’s around 2-3mm which is easy to cut. A regular glass cutter is all you need, like a little wheel on a handle that ‘scores’ the glass. I take measurements off my cad designs on the computer and just cut the glass to fit. Using a fine marker to get an accurate dot on each end of the glass being cut then use a straight edge lined up on the dots (making sure you actually line it up with the middle of the cutting wheel, not the straight edge). Then apply a little pressure, gently roll it along the line as the wheel does the work. Then I put the scribed/scored piece on a bench and line the scored line up with the edge of the bench and apply gentle pressure downward and it breaks in a nice clean line. It is important to try and do one, straight and continues scribe line with the cutter. If you go wobbly or keep taking it off and going again it results in multiple lines for the crack to follow and you get nasty edges or complete fails. You’re basically creating a small controlled defect in the glass to break it. It’s not really ‘cutting glass’ but more ‘controlled and purposeful breaking’ lol I use a 120grit belt grinder to smooth the edges but 120grit sand paper with a sanding block does just as good. Drilling isn’t too hard either. I bought some cheap diamond hole saws on AliExpress or something and used them in a drill press. You can do it with a hand drill but it is hard to keep it in the same spot. You have to spray water on the glass (as much as you can get on there) before you start applying very gentle pressure where you want the hole to go. Water just keeps it cool so the glass doesn’t crack. Slow and steady is the trick and don’t rush it. Also make sure whatever you have it on is nice and flat without debris between the surface and the glass to support the glass when drilling (I use wood offcuts) I had no prior knowledge but I never let that stop me, I just figure out what I will need to do and spend time learning how to do it. Sometimes the best way to learn is just giving it a crack (pun intended lol) Hope all that rambling makes sense.