The (Ever Changing) DIY To-Do List

As a first-time homeowner on a just-finished-law-school budget, I'm always looking for ways to get a whole lot of bang for just a little cash. Luckily, Pinterest is chock full of DIY projects that can help me stretch my home decorating budget. Here are just a few of the projects I'm hoping to complete this year:

Install Kitchen Backsplash

Budget: $150

Materials Needed:

• Smart Tiles in "Bellagio"
• Craft Knife

Build Outdoor Fire Pit

Budget: $75

Materials Needed

• 30 12"x8"x4" Concrete Wall Blocks
• Play Sand

Stain Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets (Builder Grade to Mahogany)

Budget: $45

Materials Needed

• Minwax Gel Stain, 2 Qt.
• Soft Cloth (Old T-shirt)
• Rubber Gloves
• Painter's Triangles
• Painter's Tape
• Butcher Paper (To Protect Floors)

Custom "Built-In" Bookshelves in Living Room

Budget: $250

Materials Needed

• 3/4"x4'x8' Plywood
• Birch Stripping
• Crown Molding
• L Brackets
• Primer
• White Paint