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Finders, keepers: Look in 'as is' section for treasures. $2 cabinet door is transformed into elegant outdoor hanging. Project design, text and picture, created by: MADELEINE LANGLOIS Project Title: Outdoor Tuscan bud vase Hands-on time: Less than two hours. Total time: Add drying time for the granular paste and paint glazes. Skill: Moderate. Project cost: Less than $25 for the supplies (not including the cabinet door, which was purchased in the "as is" section of Ikea for $2). Project creation, article and photo by: Madeleine M Langlois

Materials and tools: Polished melamine cabinet door, with a grooved centre panel Sanding block and tack cloth Mounting hooks and appropriate tools Electric drill with 1/16" diameter bit Two screws that will fit into the drilled holes Painter's tape Granular stone-like textured paste by DeSerres, 650 g can Spatula (3 to 5 cm wide) Mosaic glass pieces in assorted colours A clean, damp cloth Four acrylic paint colours, Patio paints by DecoArt (I used a light terra-cotta for the base, moss green, aqua and white to achieve a verdigris finish) Glaze medium Paint tray and stir sticks A couple of sea sponges Exterior varnish A glass cylinder-shape vase (available at garden centres, florists and gift shops) 35 cm of 20-gauge silver wire and pliers (Most materials for this project are available at arts, crafts and hardware stores.) The "as is" or discount section of home furnishing stores is a great place for unique finds that you can transform into something else. The basic cupboard door I used for this project is a good example. I filled the centre panel with granular paste, added small mosaic tiles, applied glaze for an Old World verdigris effect, and then secured a glass vase with wire. It is now an outdoor Tuscan-style bud vase wall hanging. Clean the entire surface of the panel thoroughly. Lightly sand only the centre of the door panel and wipe it clean. Install the necessary mounting hardware at the back of the door panel, making sure it will hold the weight of the panel. Position the glass vase where desired in the panel. Make a pencil mark on either side of the vase, near the top, and then set the vase aside. Drill a 1/16" diameter hole through each pencil mark. (Wire will later be threaded through these holes.) Place a screw in each hole to keep it clear and apply painter's tape around the outer edges of the centre panel. Using a spatula, apply a 2-mm-thick layer of the granular paste to the centre panel, creating a textured pattern as you go. Randomly press glass mosaic pieces into the paste. Wipe the mosaic pieces with a damp cloth to remove paste. Remove the screws. Let the granular paste dry for 24 hours. In a paint tray, mix one part acrylic paint and two parts glaze medium for each colour. Apply one glaze colour at a time with a slightly damp sea sponge, moving randomly around the surface of the textured panel and leaving some areas exposed. Remove the tape and clean the edges and mosaic pieces with a damp cloth. Let dry for 12 hours. Once the granular texture is completely dry, apply two coats of exterior varnish, letting it dry between each coat. Wait 48 hours before exposing the project to moisture. Cut a 35-cm length of strong silver wire. Thread the two ends through the holes at the back of the panel, so that the ends are even on each side. Place the bud vase between the two wires and wrap the wire around the front of the vase to secure it in place. With pliers, form a swirl with the wire ends. Hang the Tuscan-style panel outdoors and fill the vase with water and flowers. Or, for a special effect in the evening, add a floating candle. Copyright MaddyLane Designs/Miy Decorations © 2008 No portion of this article is to be copied or published without permission.