Part I – Preliminaries

Step 1

Open a new 800 px x 600 px RGB document in Illustrator.
Go to Illustrator > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set to 1px.

Step 2

With the Rectangle Tool (M) create two rectangles. The sizes of mine are: the bottom 444 px x 198 px and the top 403 px x 162 px. Center them vertically and horizontally.

Select (V) the smaller (top) rectangle and tap twice the Up Arrow key to shift it 2 pixels up.

Select the bottom rectangle. Go to Effect > Stylize > Round Corners… and set the Radius to 77px.
Repeat that for the top one, this time setting the Radius to 65px.

Select both rectangles. Go to Effect > 3D > Rotate and choose the settings as in the image

Keep the two rectangles selected and go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Don’t deselect and release the clipping masks that were just created by Illustrator. To do that go to Object > Clipping Mask > Release or use the keyboard shortcut Option/Alt+Cmd/Ctrl+7.
Next go to Object > Path > Clean Up.

Finally, select both shapes and ungroup twice Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+G (or Object > Ungroup).
Now, the two shapes appear in the Layer Panel as Paths.

Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the bottom shape and paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F. Keep it selected and holding down the Shift key select also the top smaller part. Choose Divide from the Pathfinder Panel. Ungroup Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+G.
Bring the frame (compound path) forward Cmd/Ctrl+] (or go to Object > Arrange > Bring Forward).

Part II – Create the box lid

Step 3

Copy the three shapes created in Part 1 and turn them upside down (to be sure it’s exactly 180 degrees hold the Shift key down)
Bring the frame part to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+] (or go to Object > Arrange > Bring to Front).
Apply a gradient fill as in the image below, the numbers represent the RGB values.

Copy the lid frame Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste it to back Cmd/Ctrl+B. Tap 4 times the Up Arrow key to shift it 4 pixels up.

Apply the gradient to the lid frame bottom copy as in the image (For your convenience you can make all the other objects invisible Cmd/Ctrl+3)

Here is what we get

Step 4

Select the inner part of the lid and apply a radial gradient as in the image

Step 5

Get back to the lid frame. Select it and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… Set the parameters as in the image

(1) Since I do not want to have the lid frame shadow outside the lid we will create a clipping mask.
(2) In the Layer Panel select the lid shape. Bring it to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+]. Holding down the Shift key select bot the lid shape and the lid frame. To create a clipping mask either go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make or use the shortcut Cmd/Ctrl+7.
(3) Here is what we get. Select all element and group the lid Cmd/Ctrl+G.

For your convenience create a new layer Cmd/Ctrl+L. Select the lid and drag it for a while to the new layer.

Part III – Create an egg

Step 6

You may use the image below as a template to draw the shape of your egg. Lock this image Cmd/Ctrl+3. Next draw an elipse (L) starting in the center of the template egg – hold the Option/Alt key. Then reshape your ellipse using the Direct Selection Tool (A).

With the Direct Selection Tool (A) select the right half or your egg and delete it.

Set its stroke color to white, no fill and go to Effect > 3D > Revolve. Click More Options to view the complete list of options. In the image below you will find all the settings I used.

With the Shift-key hold down rescale your egg so that it was about 106 px x 144 px.

Step 7

Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste to back Cmd/Ctrl+B the egg. Open the Appearance Panel and change the settings to No Shading.

(1) You should get a white egg shape.
(2) Keeping it selected go to Object > Expand Appearance.
(3) Don’t deselect and choose Unite from the Pathfinder Panel.

Step 8

Keep the just created white egg copy selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow and choose the settings as in the image

Select both the top and the bottom eggs and group them Cmd/Ctrl+G (or go to Object > Group).

Step 9

In order to obtain the colorful egg use orange R = 247 G = 147 B = 30 as the stroke color instead of white and choose R = 86 G = 45 B = 34 as the Custom Shading color in the 3D > Revolve Panel.
If you want to add some decor to your egg(s) (fill your box with Easter eggs maybe(?)) visit my tutorial: Create and color an eco easter egg in Adobe Illustrator.

Part IV – Create the bottom part of the box

Step 10

First we will apply gradients to all three parts created in Part I.
First add a gradient fill as in the image to the frame part:

Next to the inner part:

Next copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the very bottom part and paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F, tap three times to shift it 3 pixels down

Fill it with the same gradient you used for the frame part, then reverse the gradient.

Step 11

Now we will put the eggs in.
Make sure you have 5 white eggs and a colorful one. Bring them all to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+]. Scale down the three eggs from the second row. I used the Object > Transform > Scale (see the image below). Arrange the eggs ‘on‘ the box.

Step 12

To make sure that your eggs do not break before the frying pan is ready to receive an omelette create a tiny rectangle (M). Scale it so that it works well with the size of an egg. With the Direct Selection Tool (A) select the two bottom points and click the little Convert Point icon in the top panel. Apply the gradient fill as in the image.

Go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow and set

Place the separators between the first and the second row of eggs.
Group Cmd/Ctrl+G the first row of eggs and the two separators.

Select the inner part of the box, copy it Cmd/Ctrl+C, paste to front Cmd/Ctrl+F, then bring to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+].
Holding down the Shift key select it together with the group of eggs and separators.
Make a clipping mask Cmd/Ctrl+7.

Step 13

Create a simple shape resembling the wider part of an egg (the easiest way is to start with an Ellipse (L))
Copy it three times and apply the gradient fill as in the image. Send them to back Shift+Cmd+Ctrl+[ (or go to Object > Arrange > Send to Back) and place so that they constitute the base part of the box.

You may use Illustrator to distribute them evenly (select all of them and choose Horizontal Distribute Center in the Align Panel) as well as to center it with the rest of the box. To do the latter, select all three shapes, group them Cmd/Ctrl+G. Keep them selected. Holding down the Shift key select the frame of the box. Click again on the frame to make it the key object (this time you don’t need to hold down Shift as you click). This time choose Horizontal Align Center.

Step 14

Now, a little bit tricky part where we will add a shadow inside the box. Note that the eggs are over the frame so if we add Drop Shadow effect to the frame, the shadow will not be visible on the eggs. And we want to have it on the eggs in the front row.
Here is how we will deal with that.
(1) Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the frame, paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F then bring to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+]. Go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… and use the settings as in the image.
(2) With the Rectangle Tool (M) create a rectangle that divides the frame vertically into two parts. Send it backward Cmd/Ctrl+[ (or go to Object > Arrange > Send Backward).
Holding the Shift key select both the frame and the rectangle and choose Divide from the Pathfinder Panel. Ungroup the objects. Delete the rests of the rectangle. Also go to Path > Clean Up.
(3) Here is what we get.

(4) Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the inner shape of the box, paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F then bring to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+].
Holding the Shift key select it both with the bottom half of the frame. Make clipping mask Cmd/Ctrl+7.
(5) Again copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the inner shape of the box, paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F then bring to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+] and holding the Shift key select it both with the top half of the frame.
(6) In (4) and (5) Illustrator created groups that contain the clipping mask and the masked object. In the Layer Panel select the group created in (5) and bring it back so that it was placed directly under the eggs from the second row. It’s done.

Step 15

Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C the bottom parts of the box that you created in Step 13 and paste them to front Cmd/Ctrl+F. It might be more convenient if you ungroup them for a while Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+G. Select each one separately and apply the gradient fill as in the image. Next select all and in the Appearance Panel change the Blending Mode to Multiply and decrease the Opacity to 42%.

Step 16

Select the shape that makes the tiny border of the box frame. (In the Layer Panel you should find it just above the elements we worked on in the previous step).
Copy it Cmd/Ctrl+C, paste to back Cmd/Ctrl+B then send to back Shift_Cmd/Ctrl+[.
Go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow… and enter the settings as in the image

Step 17

With the Ellipse Tool (L) create an ellipse. Send it to Back Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+[. Place it as in the image and fill with the black to white gradient as you can see below.
Note: If you are using Illustrator CS4, select the white gradient stop and set its Opacity to 0. Decrease the Opacity of your ellipse to 70% and skip to Step 18.

Copy the ellipse Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste it to front Cmd/Ctrl+F. Select both of them and go to Transparency Panel. Choose Make Opacity Mask.

To edit the masking object select its thumbnail in the Transparency Panel. It’s the one on the right (left thumbnail represents the opacity mask, right thumbnail represents masking objects). Then inverse the gradient and check ‘Clip’ in the Transparency Panel.

Click the masked artwork’s thumbnail (left thumbnail) in the Transparency panel to exit mask-editing mode.
Select the masked ellipse and in the Appearance Panel change the Blending Mode to Multiply and decrease its Opacity to 70%. Holding down Shift and Option/Alt key drag the ellipse under two other parts of the box.

Step 18

Put the lid group back to the layer we work on and send it to back Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+[.
Create two rectangles, mine are filled with R = 153 G = 134 b = 117. Try to position them as in the image. Group them Cmd/Ctrl+G and and send to back Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+[.
Select all and chose Horizontal Align Center from the Align Panel.

Holding the Shift key drag the rectangles and the lid down so that to position the three groups properly. The 6-egg box is ready, it’s time to prepare a pan for an omelette.

Thank you for reading. I’m looking forward to your comments.
And… if you like this post please share: Tweet, Stumble, ….

Step 1

Create an irregular shape as in the image below. You can either use the Pen Tool (P) or start with an ellipse (L) and then move the anchor points and adjust the handles with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift+C).
Fill the shape with a solid color, R = 255 G = 174 B = 209 and set the stroke to none.
Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste in back Cmd/Ctrl+B then drag it a little bit down and to the right as in the image.

Fill the bottom shape with the pink gradient as in the image. The numbers in the image represent the RGB values of the the gradient colors.

Step 2

With the Pen Tool (P) create a simple irregular shape as in the image

Fill it with the gradient as in the image, no stroke.

Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste the yellow shape in the back Cmd/Ctrl+B.

Keep it selected, enlarge just a little bit and shift a bit down. Adjust the gradient so that the beneath copy was a bit darker.

Step 3

It is the time for our chocolate coating. First with the Pen Tool (P) create an irregular shape as in the image. Fill it with the dark chocolate color, mine is R = 48 G = 35 B = 19.

Deselect, set the fill color to R = 98 G = 69 B = 35 and choose the Gradient Mesh Tool (U).
Add (just by clicking) a mesh point as shown in the image.

Deselect, set the fill color to R = 73 G = 54 B = 31 and add another mesh point as shown below.

And once more with the milk chocolate brown R = 123 G = 84 B = 39.

Step 4

Now we will put our cupcake into a brown paper liner.
With the Rectangle Tool create a rectangle. Fill it with some light brown R = 143 G = 108 B = 86. With the Gradient Mesh Tool (U) add a mesh point in the middle of the bottom edge of the rectangle. Now with the Direct Selection Tool (A) reshape the bottom part of the rectangle so that to obtain the shape of the liner (you will have to replace the mesh points and to add some curviness by dragging the handles).
Send the liner shape to back the liner shape – select and go to Object > Arrange > Send to Back or use the shortcut Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+[.

(1) We will have 19 mesh points on the horizontal edges of the liner. The middle and the two extreme ones are already there.
First add two more in the middles of each half. Then try to distribute uniformly four in each quarter.
(2) Still with the Gradient Mesh Tool (U) click somewhere in the bottom part of the liner (make sure you click on the mesh line) to get some more mesh points as in the image.
(3) Select all the mesh points on the bottom edge and change their fill to some darker brown, mine is R = 58 G = 30 B = 18.
(4) Starting from one of the extreme points select every second mesh point on the top edge and every second mesh point on the mesh line inside the liner and change its fill to the same color as used in (3).

Step 5

We will add some shadow that comes from the cupcake.
In Step 1 we created two pink shapes. Select the bottom one, copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste it to back Cmd/Ctrl+B, still selected enlarge it a little, drag and rotate just a little bit. Change the fill color to black.

Next select the liner. We aim to intersect the just created shadow shape with the liner shape. The problem is that the liner is not a path but a mesh object and the Pathfinder won't work in such case.
Don't panic. Go to Object > Path > Offset path and set the Offset size to 0px. This way you've just created a path that has the exact shape of the outline of our mesh object.

Keep it selected. Press the Shift key and select the shadow shape.
Go to Pathfinder Panel and choose Intersect.

Go to the Appearance Panel, change the blending mode to Multiply and decrease the Opacity to 18%.

Step 5

For your convenience block the cupcake (to do that select it and hit Cmd/Ctrl+2).
Choose the Star Tool (You will find it under the Rectangle Tool in the Tools Panel). Double click and in the dialog box set the values as: Radius 1: 200 px, Radius 2: 210 px (I increase the Radius 1 by 5%) and Points: 36.

This will give you the napkin with the right proportions. Send it to back, Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+[. Select (V) and rescale the napkin.
Fill it with a light blue gray R = 236 G = 240 B = 242 , no stroke.

Step 6

Create an ellipse (L) and place it symmetrically under the cupcake. Set its fill to black with no stroke, change the blending mode to Multiply and decrease the Opacity to 12%.

Step 7

Create another ellipse (L) and put it between the napkin and the cupcake shadow that was created in the previous step. Make sure it is entirely within the napkin. Fill it with the black to white gradient as in the image.

Change the blending mode to Multiply and decrease the opacity a little (I set it to 80%).

Step 8

It's the time for a cherry.
Create a simple shape of a cherry and bring it to front Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+]. To do that either go to Object > Arrange > Bring to Front or use the shortcut Shift + Cmd/Ctrl+].
Fill it with the solid color, R = 139 G = 0 B = 55, no stroke.

Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste the cherry to front Cmd/Ctrl+F. With the Gradient Mesh Tool (U) add two mesh points as in the image.

With the Direct Selection Tool A, change the fill colors of some of the mesh points as in the image (the numbers correspond to the RGB values)

Decrease the opacity a bit (71%).

Group the two cherry shapes, select both and press Cmd/Ctrl+G.
Copy Cmd/Ctrl+C and paste Cmd/Ctrl+V the gradient shadow we used for the napkin. In the Layer panel place it above the cupcake group and below the cherry group. Position it and resize so that to obtain a nice shadow of the cherry on the chocolate cover.

Step 9

Now we will create the cherry stem.
(1) With the Pen Tool (P) create a simple two-points path. Set fill to none and stroke to R = 198 G = 221 B = 124. (2) Use the built-in Illustrator brushes from the Brushes panel (go to Window > Brushes). I chose the 3pt Round Calligraphic brush and set the stroke to 1,5 pt.
(3) Go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke.
(4) Copy the stem to front Cmd/Ctrl+C, Cmd/Ctrl+F, with the Option/Alt key on drag the stem copy a bit to the right. You should now have three copies of the stem, select the two of them that do not overlap.

(5) Go to the Pathfinder Panel and choose Intersect.
(6) Apply the gradient fill as in image to the beyond (larger) part of the stem.

(7) Create a tiny ellipse as in the image. In the Layer Panel put it below the two parts of the stem.
(8) With the Shift key on select the small ellipse shape and the larger part of the stem (the one with gradient fill). Co to the Pathfinder Panel and choose Unite.

(9) Create a small ellipse (L) and in the Layer Panel put it between the cherry and the twi parts of the stem. Set the fill to R = 73 G = 54 B = 31, no stroke.

Your cupcake is ready!

Vector preview: Milky-way-donkey

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Preview: my simple vector illustration. On waves.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Regentag on waves of love (Regentag auf Liebe Wellen)

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Les muguets du 1er mai (1) - preview (Lilies-of-the-Valley)

Les muguets du 1er mai (2) - preview (Lilies-of-the-Valley)

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Vector freebie preview: my 1001 nights pony in black and white.

Vector freebie preview: my 1001 nights pony in colors (1).

Vector freebie preview: my 1001 nights pony in colors (2).

Vector freebie preview: two 1001 nights ponies in colors.

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Preview: final result

Part 1: Decor

Step 1: Creating a custom brush

Create a custom brush to be used for the decor. I call it a nail brush. Below you can find the template of mine (you can aslo create this shape combining two ellipses, then go to Pathfinder, choose Add to Shape Area and extract afterwards).

nail brush

Using the Selection Tool (V) drag your shape to the Brushes panel and choose the settings as below:

Create a nail brush

Step 2: Creating a wax decor

Draw a straight line segment, apply the nail brush and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform…

Creating decor (1)

Again go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform… and choose Apply New Effect when the dialog box pops up.

Set the value of horizontal move so that to recreate what you can see below (that may vary depending on the initial size of your line segment).

Create decor (2)

Draw another vertical line segment of the same length above the left border of the first circle of nails, apply the nail brush, go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform… and again set the value of horizontal move and number of copies so that to recreate what you can see below.

Creating decor (3)

Then drag it down holding alt/option key (to make a copy) and Shift (to drag it vertically) key

Creating decor (4)

You don’t have to be precise as far as the number of copies here (as you can see I was not) since the left and right edges will not be visible.

Step 3: Turning the decor into a symbol

Select your three objects, go to Object menu and expand them. Set stroke color to none and fill color to white. Drag the selection to the Symbols panel and choose Graphic:

Creating symbol

Now, it’s time to create an egg.

Part 2: Creating a 3D egg object

Step 4: Creating an egg shape to be revoled

You may use the image below as a template to draw the shape of an egg.

Egg shape template

To trace it, make sure the image is in its own layer, double-click the layer in the Layers panel, select Template, and click OK:

Easiest way is to draw an elipse starting in the center of the template egg – hold the alt/option key. Then reshape your ellipse using the direct selection tool (A).

With the selection tool (A) select the right half or your egg and delete it. We are about to create an eco egg which means we only use purely natural colorants – the onion rinds in this case. To obtain the onion rinds effect set the stroke color to R = 165 G = 78 B = 61. Make sure you set fill color to none.

Shape to be revolved

Step 5: From 2D to 3D

Go to Effect > 3D > Revolve. Click More Options to view the complete list of options. On the screenshot below you can see my choice of settings:

Rotated egg

Step 6: Mapping Art

Choose the Map Art button and go to Surface 2, choose the eco veggtor symbol and place it on the grey area. Check the preview to properly position the symbol.

Mapping art

Step 7: Adding shade on the egg surface

Duplicate the revolved object (cmd/ctrl+C) and paste it to the front (cmd/ctrl+F). Change the stroke color to white (fill is still none), blending mode to Multiply and Opacity to 60%. Double click the Apperance panel, first go to Map Art and click the Clear All button – that removes art from all surfaces. Press OK than go to More Option, below are my settings:

Adding shadow to the egg surface

Step 9: Adding background and shadow underneath the egg

Create an ellipse starting from the bottom peak of your egg. Set it to the back shift+cmd/ctrl+[. Fill the ellipse with a radial black to white gradient and adjust the gradient settings as below:

Adding shadow underneath the egg

Set blending mode to Multiply and decrease the Opacity a bit. If you use Illustrator CS 4 you may use a black to transparent gradient instead, then you do not have to change the blending mode.
Now set the backround color, create a rectangle and set it to back shift+cmd/ctrl+[. I set the fill color to R = 157 G = 178 B = 178. The font I used are Skia Regular and Santa Fe LET.

Preview: final result

I hope you found this tutorial useful – it’s my first one – some feedback much appreciated! So are tweets/diggs/stumbling… :)