Hi! I’m Karin
Welcome! I’m a blogger and DIY fanatic. The purpose of Renovated Faith is to inspire and equip women to transform their house into a home while demonstrating how God offers hope to transform our hearts. Anyone can renovated a house but only God can renovate our hearts.
When I’m not spending time with my husband Jeremy and daughter Morgan, you’ll find me refinishing furniture in the garage or watering plants in my greenhouse. Some of my favorite things include Dr. Pepper, my electric sander and my Aggie ring.
After seminary, I had the privilege of serving in full-time Adult Education Ministry and Women’s Ministry. However, my greatest opportunity for growth has been through my daughter Morgan. In becoming a mom, I can begin to see the depth of love that our Father has for us…
Through Renovated Faith, I explore the transformative power of God to help us reach our greatest potential in Him. God never leaves a project half-done…He continually works on each one of us, as a lavish expression of His amazing grace.
That’s what the Christian life is. It is a process of transformation that can only be done by His Hands.
Although I am fabulously flawed, my hope is that you will be encouraged, challenged and blessed to see how God desires to transform us to be more and more like Him. Anyone can renovate a house, but only God can renovate your heart and mind.
I like your give away. I hope I am included. Things weren’t working too smoothly.
But I really like your concept. I am a diy and upcycler myself. And I do love Jesus! Thanks for doing what you do!
So glad you like the blog and yes you are included in the giveaway. Thank you so much Lois!
Karin,
I have a friend, loves Dr. Pepper and loves her Aggie ring too! I’m writing to ask permission to use these scripture printables in a silent auction we do at church. The proceeds to go missions. I will have my boys use water guns to squirt diluted water paints onto water color paper and then print one or two of these out on paper. I’ll understand if you say no, I just thought I’d ask. A lot of these printables are for personal use only, I believe that the people bidding at church would be using it for personal use. Thanks!
Lanny – You can certainly use the printables to use as an auction item for missions. I appreciate you thinking of me and I hope your event goes well!
I am very interested in up bicycling as we can use the old and make into something new.
I am also interested in using old bicycles to use as house decor. May i follow your responses? I am new to this.
Sure, let me know if I can help in any way!
I came across this site today and I’m really excited. However, I wonder if the site is still active. I don’t see any postings beyond 2017.
Still very active Clara! SO glad you are here! 🙂
Interesting I found your page while at an Aggie Educator Network conference! Someone must be saying something! 😉
I initially stumbled across the podcast post. Thanks for the new ideas!
You’re kidding! Small world. Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to comment. Gig ‘Em and God Bless Dani!
Paint instead of chalk paint…in this posting would you still use this technique when painting over a stained and varathaned old oak table?
Yes, but I would use an oil based primer just to be safe. I like Zinsser Cover Stain. Thanks JoAnn and let me know if I can answer any other questions!
Thank you for all that you share! I love your website. I’m a born-again believer myself PTL! I’d like some info about refinishing end tables. If I’d like to keep the wood grain finish under the new gel stain, do I still need to prime and paint the top? Could I sand, gel stain, then put on the clear coat? Perhaps that won’t work. I’d truly appreciate your expert advice on this.
Hey Denise – Yes, you can absolutely just add gel stain to the sanded surface. That way you can see some of the old grain underneath. Thank byou Denise!
your windmill pattern I can’t get comes with an error page can you pleas send to e-mail
Sorry about that! It is now in the library!
Hi there! I have a very similar old chandelier as the one you restored. The cylindrical pieces that are below the bulbs… did you replace with metal? Mine are plastic and I wasn’t sure if yours were too and you just painted those as well.
I just painted those as well so they matched. I hope this helps. Thanks Kim!
Hello Sweet Lover of the Lord!!! There is always one more person God puts in your path that you have not met yet and today it was YOU. Beyond the fact that I am know far and wide for making Chicken Soup out of Chicken P—–, I also praise God for all the wonderful women in my life, some of whom I mentor and some who mentor me. I have had way more birthdays than you and so blessed by all those years. I really can’t say much more than this to tell you how your post impacted my heart……”singing for joy knowing there is someone so real that I can relate to.” I am a DIY’r and have been most of my life. I found you looking at Fall Porches on Pinterest and was elated when I realized your heart was sold out on DOING and LOVING. JUST KNOW SWEET GIRL YOU HAVE A NEW FRIEND THAT HAS SUCH A HAPPY HEART BECAUSE OF YOUR SITE. Your approach to studying the scripture’s is so “renovating”………taking you to my small group this week. I will be back soon!!!! Blessings!!!
Carolyn, I can’t thank you enough for your sweet note! You have made my day and it’s so humbling to know how God uses this blog. It’s definitely HIS ministry because there is no way I can orchestrate the ways He uses it. I hope you have fun at your small group and I am so blessed by your sweet note and enormous faith. God bless you sweet friend! – Karin
What a delight to read your refreshing take on the idol of chalk paint! I am going to save a fortune, as well as not making A… S… any richer- it’s not good for a person, all that dough! GOD bless you and your family, dear Karin.
Just found you when I received an Alert for a “Pin” I might be interested in… Ribbon on Christmas Trees.
I was interested and clicked on your Pin… then read the directions… and found your heart was taken…
Really liked your decorating ideas but LOVED your Renovated Faith comments… so good to “stumble” onto a fellow believer in such a nice way… I do the bulletin for our church… and I’ve been pondering a “theme” for December…
Borrowing 2 ideas from you and came up with another 2 on my own…
Ribbon… how God uses all the twists and turns of our lives…
Letter to Santa… His book/letter even better
Front door decoration… didn’t have a chance to read it – but tho’t … so many people only see our “front door” as in our exterior… we have it fancied up… but what does our inside look like?
Lights on a tree… lights are so much nicer on a tree that’s lit… you can’t see them if they’re not plugged in…
i’ll be back… do you send out emails when you post a blog… ?
Thank you!
Hey Cheryl! Thank you so much for letting me know that my post played a part in helping you for your church bulletin. I send out an email every time I write a new post! I so appreciate your encouragement and hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving Cheryl. – Karin
I am so thankful I found your site. I am a pastors wife of a church is rebuilding. I am updating the church but have NO budget. I have looked for printable pictures I can frame but haven’t found them till today. You are a true blessing and will be part of bring life back to the church.
Awww, this makes my day! I’m so glad they are of some help. Let me know if you need anything Heidi!
I am unable to download the potpourri printable. It crashes every time. I tried downloading other pro tables from your library and had no issues. Any suggestions?
I’m not sure why it didn’t work but I just sent it to your email address. Have a Merry Christmas! Karin
We are a sweet talented lady Love your gifts
Thank you
Debby
Karin while I am not a woman I find your blog and ideas intriguing to say the least. I love to recycle and re-purpose things. It is like a reminder that I have been transformed from a worthless piece of clay into a beautiful vessel by the grace of God.
So glad you are here Dale!
How can I subscribe. I would like to download pdf for making cotton bolls.
Here’s the link Cathy. Let me know if you have any questions at all! 🙂 https://renovatedfaith.com/get-a-password/
Have you ever spray painted your bathroom faucets and handles?
I haven’t but I have spray painted a shower frame and the results were great for about 6 months and then the paint started to peel so I probably wounldn’t recommend it. Let me know if you have any other questions Mary!
Hi Karin, I feel so fortunate to have discovered your blog. Many bloggers offer painting tips but I like yours best, especially that you use paints other than chalk and especially since I am new to painting. I wanted your opinion/advice/guidance on a small project I am trying to accomplish on some vintage resin wall plaques totally unrelated to one of your posts. However, I had some pictures I wanted to include but was not able to get them in this comment section. Is it possible that you could send me your email address so I could send my questions/pictures to you directly?
My email is [email protected].
Many thanks,
Betty
Absolutely Betty! Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!
I love your style and advice. Also, that you love God. I was seriously considering Chalk Painting (for the first time)
an inexpensive/vintage/mostly wood 3 pc. bedroom dresser set. Mainly because taking it out of the room would be
very hard to do–one pc. in particular is long and heavy. So, if I sand it it will be in my bedroom. Any suggestions in
this regard? Also I’m thinking it would be better eventually if I moved it to the larger bedroom but need to make
room in that room from boxes and tubs. (everything is a project, eh?) Either way, I’m thinking of painting it dark
blue on top surface and maybe white for all the rest of it, or just the sides and drawers…tri-color might look funky
though? (The white/dark blue paint would go with the curtains in larger bedroom and not with the room it is currently
in…curtains are a tan and bedspread is white. ) I would also like something that gives it an oriental look, with these
colors. The simple lines of the dressers I believe, lend themselves to this application. I’m more classic, as I think you are too. Any thoughts on all of this? Sorry, I know I put a lot in here. I’m just sort of stuck –don’t want to make too much of a mess in the
house and not looking at spending a bunch of money. (I have some dark blue satin paint from another project. I also have
some semi-gloss white but think that the semi-gloss might be too shiny?) Help! Again, sorry. I would REALLY appreciate your suggestions!!
Great question Arlene! I understand not wanting to move heavy furniture pieces and trying to minimize the mess. Here are a couple options: Option 1: Use a sanding block to hand-sand the furniture. Wipe with a damp ramp as you finish each surface. There will be some sanding dust but not as much dust in your bedroom. Option 2: Get those furniture sliders like the link below and slide them into a room that you can clean a little easier. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=furniture+sliders&ref=nb_sb_noss_2&linkCode=ll2&tag=clearcoat0a-20&linkId=eda448c9dc6820ad793da30303757c4e&language=en_US
Hello , my first venture to refinish just retired or might retire if no job comes along ha ha…. Can I use liquid sander on the legs instead of sanding. Also if I paint the legs white am with semi gloss can i highlight the with brown stain and run off will that work?
Hey Donna, I don’t have a lot of experience with liquid sander but it’s worth a try! And yes, you can paint the legs in semi-gloss before highlighting. The paint will wipe off easier on semigloss so if you want a deeper brown look, you might wipe it on a second time. Thanks!
I love the post on painting the fireplace. Could you tell me the paint color you used on the walls in the bedroom. I love it!
thank you so much Sandra. Be sure to send me before and after pics to [email protected]. I’d love to see how it turns out! It is Sherwin Williams Strand. Here is a post with more pictures here:https://renovatedfaith.com/sherwin-williams-silver-strand/
Karin,
A couple of days ago I came across your blog through pinterest while looking for DIY cotton Stems. I was so impressed with you including your faith and wanted to subscribe but suddenly pinterest just closed…🤔 🤷🏽♀️…I searched again and couldn’t find your post at all. I awoke at 2:30 this morning (not unusual lately) and as usual opened pinterest and there you were..you popped up right on the front page…Thank you Jesus, for sending the page back to me!
This world needs more Christians to make a stand on their faith and I just wanted to say that I am one that is making a stand with you! Thank you for proudly flying your flag of faith (as my grandmother used to say) I am learning that it’s okay to fly it proudly and you just gave me more conformation to do so! May the Lord bless your works and reward you beyond measure! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ps. I am making the cotton Stems today as I found yours to be my favorite! 😁😍
Mandi, Your sweet note really touched my heart and I thank you so much for taking the time to write it. God is so good. And this blog has been such an opportunity for me to see God work. Because only He can use a DIY post to spread His word to the people that need to see them. I couldn’t do it if I tried. He never ceases to amaze me. Thank you again for your comment and please let me know if I can ever help you with anything Mandi! Blessings, Karin
Hi Karin. I am absolutely thrilled to find your blog. I am a beginner at furniture refinishing. I have been watching videos to learn all I can to make my projects great. Your instructions and videos are the best! I am currently refinishing a large end table and needed a way to make the top have a stained look. Your “How to add a Faux Stain” method is going to be a lifesaver. I ordered all the supplies i need and purchased the paint, so I am ready to go just as soon as my supplies arrive.
I wanted to also let you know that you have inspired me to pursue a dream of hosting a blog, refinishing furniture, and sharing my faith. My husband and I currently teach 4 year-olds in Sunday School. That is so much fun! This is also my 41st year in education. I am retired – rehired and work half time now. I want to work half time one more year after this one and then pursue my dream. I have been praying for the Lord to help me know what I need to be doing, and then I found your blog. Praise the Lord, I am excited! Thanks for your inspiration!
Lisa, Thank you so much for taking the time to write. I’m so excited to hear that you are starting your own blog. Please let me know if you have any questions at all. I so appreciate your encouragement and wish you all the best! – Blessings, Karin
This is amazing! So refreshing to find you & your blog on Pinterest. Thanks for the encouragement & inspiration! I love Jesus and Pinterest so what a fun surprise to find your post.
Thank you so much Jennifer! Your comment makes my day. Let me know if you ever have any project questions!
What great inspirations you have been. I bumped into your site for some project ideas on painting mason jars and there I read your passion for Love of God!!! I would love to be in touch and learn from strong woman like you!
You keep talking about checking out you videos, however, no videos are in sight. Are they real? Where are they?
Yes, they usually come up as a pop up on your phone and will be at the top of your screen as you scroll down. Thanks!
Hi Diana, They are in each post and sometimes come up as a popup. Otherwise, look towards the top of the post. Thanks! – Karin