[Crex]

Nice for a firsty.
Another way to take care of the epoxy on blade issue that is relatively simple: once you get the handle pretty much finished prior to assembly. Hopefully you do a bit of try-fitting. Finish the leading edge of the scales where they meet the blade, dry assemble w/pins in and clamp, use a small brush and paint that leading edge and the blade up about 1/2". Remove scales carefully, and mix up your epoxy (stay away from the 5 min junk....rookie mistake). Apply glue, mount scales, set pins and wait about an hour. Check glue bead with toothpic or bamboo skewer, when it starts to go from rubber to stiff, simply use the skewer to flick off the bead of epoxy on the leading edge. With a little practice you will get a perfectly clean leading joint. If you need a little clean up, a Q tip and some acetone will make a quick wipe up of the residual (As Goater stated damp not sloppy wet).
This will also work on the butt end as well.
As suggested always tape up the rest of the blade before assembly.
Great start!