So this is my final plan, hopefully it works out. stress. let me know what you think, and be brutally honest, I need opinions.

so there will be four layers to this project
layer 1. simply the wooden base
layer 2. this layer consists of the small spacers (giving me about two inches between the wooden back and the actual cut out tree itself. in this layer there will be lighting (to encourage shadows around the eyes) and there will also be the nails that are holding the eyes in place
layer 3. layer three is the metal tree itself
layer 4. layer four will be just the eyes protruding from the tree i will be using different length nails to stagger the heights of the eyes (also for the purpose of shadow making, and because it adds an interesting "texture" or whatever you want to call it.

so this is a VERY rough sketch of how it will look, just to get an idea. I will also be intertwining the wire I bought around the tree too make it look sort of viney.

So thats my plan.  please let me know what you think.