There's something oddly comforting about curling up with an iced coffee, a good book, and a few bottles of acrylic paint. If you're anything like me, you know that creativity and true crime make a surprisingly fun combination.
Now before anyone panics—I'm talking about the mystery, the clues, the detectives, and the puzzle-solving... not the gruesome stuff.
This week's Creative Care Friday project combines some of my favorite things:
- 📚 Books
- 🧋 Iced coffee
- 🎨 Beginner acrylic painting
- 🔎 A little true crime fun
And the best part? You only need a handful of paint colors and absolutely no previous painting experience.
A Painting Designed for Beginners
One thing I always try to do with my painting tutorials is keep things simple.
You don't need twenty paint colors.
You don't need fancy brushes.
You definitely don't need to be an artist.
For this project we're using a very small color palette:
- White
- Black
- Brown
- Blue
- Purple
That's it!
Keeping the palette simple helps you focus on learning a few basic techniques instead of feeling overwhelmed by color choices.
I have a Tracer and Supply List and you can Grab the FREE download below.
Three Different Ways to Paint It
The free printable download includes three different tracer variations, so you can personalize your painting.
Choose your favorite:
- An iced coffee (because... you know me!)
- A cozy hot coffee mug
- An optional "Just One More Chapter" lettering design
There's also an optional fingerprint graphic that adds a fun detective vibe to your finished painting.
You can mix and match the elements to create your own version.
You'll Learn Easy Acrylic Painting Techniques
This project is packed with beginner-friendly techniques that look impressive but are actually very easy.
Along the way you'll learn how to:
- Create a soft textured background with crisscross brushstrokes
- Paint a faux wood tabletop
- Mix custom colors with just a few paints
- Paint transparent plastic on an iced coffee cup
- Add simple highlights and shadows
- Create realistic book pages with curved brushstrokes
- Paint fun cat-eye glasses
- Add little finishing details that really make your painting pop
It's amazing how just a few highlights and shadows can completely transform a painting.
I always compare painting to making pizza.
First comes the dough...
Then the sauce...
Then all the toppings.
Painting works the same way.
Your background is the dough.
Your base coats are the sauce.
The details are all those delicious toppings that bring everything to life.
There Are No Art Police
If you've painted with me before, you've probably heard me say this...
There are no art police.
Seriously.
Maybe your desk is white instead of brown.
Maybe your glasses are teal instead of purple.
Maybe your bookmark is blue.
Perfect.
Maybe your lines aren't perfectly straight.
Still perfect.
If using a Sharpie or a paint pen helps you get cleaner lines...
Use it!
That's not cheating.
The goal isn't perfection.
The goal is creating something that makes you smile.
Why I Love This Theme
I've been a true crime reader for years.
I love the investigative side of true crime—the detectives, the clues, the evidence, and figuring out what happened.
That's what inspired this design.
An open book.
A cup of coffee.
Reading glasses.
A fingerprint.
A tiny black heart.
It's playful without being dark, and it's a fun conversation piece for anyone who loves mystery books or crime documentaries.
If true crime isn't your thing, no worries!
This same tracer works beautifully for:
- Romance readers
- Fantasy lovers
- Cozy mystery fans
- Historical fiction readers
- Your favorite book club
- A reading journal cover
Just change the wording or leave it off completely.
My Favorite Tip from This Project
One of my favorite little tricks is creating texture instead of flat color.
Rather than painting one solid blue background, I use messy crisscross strokes.
Instead of one solid brown tabletop, I layer whites, browns, blacks, and grays to create a faux wood look.
Those little variations make a huge difference without making the painting any harder.
Simple techniques...
Big results.
Grab Your Free Download
I've put together a free printable that includes:
✔ Supply list
✔ Three different tracers
✔ Optional lettering
✔ Fingerprint design
Everything you need to get started.
Whether you're painting on an 11" × 14" canvas, a mixed-media sketchbook, or even a wood surface, you can easily transfer the design using graphite paper and start painting.
Let's Paint Together
One of the things I love most about our Creative Care Fridays is that we aren't trying to create museum masterpieces.
We're creating little moments of peace.
We're slowing down.
We're making time for ourselves.
We're putting the phone down, picking up a paintbrush, and letting creativity do what it does best—calm the chaos for a little while.
If you paint this project, I'd absolutely love to see it! Share your finished painting and let me know which version you chose—the iced coffee, the hot mug, or your own creative twist.
Until next time...
Keep creating, keep reading, and remember...
Sometimes all you need is just one more chapter... and one more brushstroke.
-teresa XO
