Sealing over Minwax water based stain

I have a sealer question. I am making American flags like many others and using Minwax water based stain. I don’t have a hvlp sprayer so I am stuck between spray can or brushing on a sealer. Since I use the 1/8” thick baltic birch stars on the Union instead of carving the stars into the Union, I am curious your opinion on what to use to seal the whole flag. Brushing on polycrilic is a bit rough because it wants to puddle around the stars when the brush hits them. Then the tedious task of sanding between coats of brush on poly because of having to get in the corners of 50 (1.25”) stars is not fun. Would you recommend a spray can laquer and doing 2-3 coats and not having to sand or another spray can sealant like spar urethane. Not a big fan of the Minwax poly spray cans. Want a good shine and seal but the raised stars make things a bit tough time wise.
TY.

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