I do not have much experience with veneers but I have done a little. They are prone to chipping and splitting. I have been watching many videos lately about marquetry for making pictures and such. Some cut the veneer with a scroll saw. I have, but I only succeeded when I sandwiched it between some heavy cardboard. But I will learn, I plan on learning Marquetry this Winter and I really want to use a scroll saw as much as possible. I need to get some jeweler scroll blades or at least some puzzle cutting blades.
I did finish this box recently. It is called a Hamsa box, not sure what the means, but the light Curly Maple on the lid and the red eye part are veneer. The middle of the eye is a piece of Water Buffalo horn I turned. Ha, this box is on it's way to a Pole Dance Instructor in Brazil! That is another story...