Create an Easter Basket Cupcake Holder in Illustrator
In this tutorial, I will use Illustrator CS6 to create a small basket that can hold a decorated cupcake or Easter candy. It will require that I draw a template, create a patterns, and make pattern swatches. I'll also add my swatches to the Swatches Library, for use in other projects down-the-line.
Besides a computer, Illustrator, and use of a color printer, I will need for this tutorial:
To follow along, launch Illustrator and proceed through each of the steps.
Create a New Document
I will choose File > New, type in "basket" for the name, make both the width and height 6.5 inches, and click OK. I'll then press escape to exit the artboard mode.
Add Guides
I want to place guides on the artboard. To do so, I will choose View > Rulers > Show Rulers, then click and drag a guide from the left ruler and release it 1/4-inch in from the left edge of the artboard. I'll pull another guide from the left and release it 1/4-inch in from the right edge of the artboard. I'll pull two guides from the top ruler, and place one 1/4-inch in from the top edge of the artboard, and one 1/4-inch in from the bottom edge.
Make a Square
I need to draw a template for a basket, and will start by drawing a square. I will select the Rectangle tool from the Tools panel, and in the Options bar I'll click on the small arrow to the right of Stroke weight value field and choose 0.75. Also in the Options bar, I want to make sure that the Fill box indicates None, and the Stroke box indicates black. To create a square, I will click where the two guides intersect in the top left corner, and drag down and diagonally opposite to where the other two guides intersect.
Add More Guides
I want to add more guides. Before doing so, however, I want to click on the rulers in the upper left corner and drag to place the ruler origin (the point where 0 appears) where the top and left guides intersect. I will then add guides, in the same way as before. Only, this time I want them to be spaced evenly, two inches apart, as shown.
Draw a Dotted Line
The basket will need to be cut in certain places, so I will need to create some marks that indicate where to cut. In the Tools panel, I'll choose the zoom tool and click on the upper right side of the artboard a few times to zoom in. I'll then choose the Line tool, and click and drag along the second guide down from the top, to have it extend from the outer left guide to second guide in from the left, as shown.
In the Options bar, I'll then click on the arrow next to the Brush Definition options and choose the Cut Here dotted line.
Create More Dotted Lines
I will create another line. This one should be equal in length to the one previously drawn and sit parallel to it on the third line down from the top. I'll again choose the Cut Here option. After, I'll add two more lines, also of equal length, yet placed to the right; opposite the existing two. I'll choose the Cut Here option for these as well.
Make a Yellow Circle
I want to make a circle. But first, I need to create a new document. I'll choose File > New, name the document pattern, change both the Width and Height to 3 inches, and click OK. Next, I'll choose the Ellipse tool from the Tools panel, which can be found by clicking on the small arrow next to the Rectangle tool. I'll then hold down the Shift key as I click and drag to create a perfect circle.
To make the circle yellow, I will double-click on the Fill box in the Tools panel, then in the Color Picker I'll type in the RGB color fields, 255, 255, and 153, and click OK.
After, I'll click on the Stroke box, followed by the None button below it.
Make More Circles
In the same way that I created a circle and added color to it, I will create five more circles. Only, I will make them different sizes and colors. The colors I will use are RGB 204, 204, 255; 255, 153, 255; 153, 204, 255; 153, 255, 153; and 255, 204, 153. After I have all my circles made, I can use the Move tool to move them to where I think they look best. I'll then choose, File > Save.
Make a Striped Pattern
To turn my composition of circles into a pattern, I will choose Select > All, then choose Object > Pattern > Make. A window will appear to say that the new pattern has been added to the Swatches panel, and to warn me that any changes made while in Pattern Editing Mode will be applied to the swatch upon exit. I'll click OK, which will automatically take me into the Pattern Editing Mode.
By Default, the opacity of the pattern is 70%.
I can adjust this in the Pattern Options panel, plus give the pattern a name, choose Grid or another tile type, adjust the width and height, and more. But, I'll just name the pattern "dots" and keep everything else the way it is. I'll then click Done.
If ever I want to edit the pattern, I can simply double-click on its swatch in the Swatches panel, which will bring me back into the Pattern Editing Mode.
Related: Pattern Tool in Illustrator CS6
Save the Swatches
I want to make another pattern. I'll choose File > Save As, name the new document "pattern_2" and click Save, then Ok. I'll then use the Selection tool to click and drag over the entire canvas, which will select all the circles, then press Delete. To make stripes, I'll use the Rectangle tool to make several long rectangles, and fill them with the same colors that I used earlier when making my circles.
I'll then choose File > Save. To make my composition into a pattern, I'll choose Select > All, then Object > Pattern > Make. I'll name the pattern "stripes" and click Done.
Make a Handle
It's important to add the two new swatches to the Swatches Library. So, in the Swatches panel, I will hold down the Shift key as I click on all the swatches that I don't want, and drag them to the delete icon at the bottom of the panel, which looks like a small trash can. I'll then click on the Swatches Library Menu icon and choose Save Swatches. I'll name the set "dots_stripes" and click Save. To save the document, I'll choose File > Save, then close the window.
Apply Patterns
Getting back to my basket file, I want to make a handle for the basket. But first, I need to adjust the size of my artboard. I'll double-click on the Artboard tool and change its height to 8 inches, set both the x and y coordinates to 0 inches, and click OK. Now I have room below the square to draw a handle.
With the Rectangle tool, I will draw a thin, 1/2-inch or slightly less rectangle that equals length of the square.
In the Options bar, I'll change the stroke width to 0.75 points. I'll also set the Fill color to None.
Hide Layers
I will use the Rectangle tool to create a rectangle that fills the entire artboard, then set the Stroke to None, and choose Object > Arrange > Send to Back. To apply the dot pattern to the large rectangle, I need to click on the Swatches Menu Library icon, choose User Defined > dots_stripes, and click on the dots swatch. I'll then choose File > Save, and click OK.
To apply the stripe pattern, I'll click on the stripes swatch, choose File > Save As, name the new file "basket_2" and click Save, then OK.
Print It
To open the Layers panel, I will choose Window > Layers. Because I want to print the pattern on one side of my cardstock and the template lines for the basket on the other side, I will need to hide certain sublayers before printing.
With the basket_2 file open, and in the Layers panel, I will click on the small arrow next to Layer 1 to view all its sublayers. I'll then click on all the sublayer eye icons, except for the last one.
This will hide everything on the artboard except for my stripe pattern.
Cut and Score
I'll place my 8.5-inch by 11-inch piece of light weight cardstock in the printer, and choose File > Print.
I now need to go back into the Layers panel and click on the eye icon for the stripe pattern to make it invisible, and click in the empty spaces where the other eye icons once were, so to view them again and to make the template lines reappear on the artboard. I'll then print the template on the opposite side of the cardstock.
Every printer is different, so before printing I want to be sure as to which way the paper should feed in, and if it should be face side up or face side down in order to print on the opposite side.
Once the basket_2 file has been printed on both sides, I will print the basket file in the same way.
Fold and Fasten
Using scissors or an X-Acto blade, I want to cut just inside the solid black lines of both the square and thin rectangle, then cut along the dotted lines within the square.
To score the cardstock, which simply means to create indent lines for better creases when folding, I will use a pencil to lightly mark two inches in from all sides of the square, place the cardstock on a magazine or rubbery cutting mat, line my ruler up to my pencil marks, and run the edge of a bone folder or the back of a butter knife along the edge of the ruler; making a grid of nine equal squares.
I will erase any visible pencil marks on the square and fold the cardstock along the scoring lines. Using a push pin, I'll then make a hole about 1/2-inch in from the top of the rectangle, then make another 1/2-inch in from the bottom. I'll also fold along the scoring lines to form a basket, then use the push pin to make a hole on each side of the basket, about 1-inch down from the top, and where the folded parts overlap.
I want to line up the holes on the rectangle with the holes on the basket, and use brass paper fasteners to secure the rectangle to the basket. This will give my basket a handle. After I make my second basket, I'll be done! I'll have two baskets, each ready to hold a decorated cupcake or fill with Easter candy.
Cupcake Recipes, Tips, and Decorating Ideas
• Easter Cupcake Recipes and Decorating Ideas
• Easter Cupcakes
• Cupcake Recipes
• Cupcake Hints and Tips
• Chocolate Easter Cupcakes with Advocaat Frosting
• Baby Chick Cupcakes
In this tutorial, I will use Illustrator CS6 to create a small basket that can hold a decorated cupcake or Easter candy. It will require that I draw a template, create a patterns, and make pattern swatches. I'll also add my swatches to the Swatches Library, for use in other projects down-the-line.
Besides a computer, Illustrator, and use of a color printer, I will need for this tutorial:
- Â
- An 8.5 by 11-inch piece of white cardstock, suitable for use in a printer
- Â
- A pencil
- Â
- A straightedge ruler
- A bone folder or other scoring device
- An office push pin or other hole making tool
- Two paper fasteners
To follow along, launch Illustrator and proceed through each of the steps.
Create a New Document
I will choose File > New, type in "basket" for the name, make both the width and height 6.5 inches, and click OK. I'll then press escape to exit the artboard mode.
Add Guides
I want to place guides on the artboard. To do so, I will choose View > Rulers > Show Rulers, then click and drag a guide from the left ruler and release it 1/4-inch in from the left edge of the artboard. I'll pull another guide from the left and release it 1/4-inch in from the right edge of the artboard. I'll pull two guides from the top ruler, and place one 1/4-inch in from the top edge of the artboard, and one 1/4-inch in from the bottom edge.
Make a Square
I need to draw a template for a basket, and will start by drawing a square. I will select the Rectangle tool from the Tools panel, and in the Options bar I'll click on the small arrow to the right of Stroke weight value field and choose 0.75. Also in the Options bar, I want to make sure that the Fill box indicates None, and the Stroke box indicates black. To create a square, I will click where the two guides intersect in the top left corner, and drag down and diagonally opposite to where the other two guides intersect.
Add More Guides
I want to add more guides. Before doing so, however, I want to click on the rulers in the upper left corner and drag to place the ruler origin (the point where 0 appears) where the top and left guides intersect. I will then add guides, in the same way as before. Only, this time I want them to be spaced evenly, two inches apart, as shown.
Draw a Dotted Line
The basket will need to be cut in certain places, so I will need to create some marks that indicate where to cut. In the Tools panel, I'll choose the zoom tool and click on the upper right side of the artboard a few times to zoom in. I'll then choose the Line tool, and click and drag along the second guide down from the top, to have it extend from the outer left guide to second guide in from the left, as shown.
In the Options bar, I'll then click on the arrow next to the Brush Definition options and choose the Cut Here dotted line.
Create More Dotted Lines
I will create another line. This one should be equal in length to the one previously drawn and sit parallel to it on the third line down from the top. I'll again choose the Cut Here option. After, I'll add two more lines, also of equal length, yet placed to the right; opposite the existing two. I'll choose the Cut Here option for these as well.
Make a Yellow Circle
I want to make a circle. But first, I need to create a new document. I'll choose File > New, name the document pattern, change both the Width and Height to 3 inches, and click OK. Next, I'll choose the Ellipse tool from the Tools panel, which can be found by clicking on the small arrow next to the Rectangle tool. I'll then hold down the Shift key as I click and drag to create a perfect circle.
To make the circle yellow, I will double-click on the Fill box in the Tools panel, then in the Color Picker I'll type in the RGB color fields, 255, 255, and 153, and click OK.
After, I'll click on the Stroke box, followed by the None button below it.
Make More Circles
In the same way that I created a circle and added color to it, I will create five more circles. Only, I will make them different sizes and colors. The colors I will use are RGB 204, 204, 255; 255, 153, 255; 153, 204, 255; 153, 255, 153; and 255, 204, 153. After I have all my circles made, I can use the Move tool to move them to where I think they look best. I'll then choose, File > Save.
Make a Striped Pattern
To turn my composition of circles into a pattern, I will choose Select > All, then choose Object > Pattern > Make. A window will appear to say that the new pattern has been added to the Swatches panel, and to warn me that any changes made while in Pattern Editing Mode will be applied to the swatch upon exit. I'll click OK, which will automatically take me into the Pattern Editing Mode.
By Default, the opacity of the pattern is 70%.
I can adjust this in the Pattern Options panel, plus give the pattern a name, choose Grid or another tile type, adjust the width and height, and more. But, I'll just name the pattern "dots" and keep everything else the way it is. I'll then click Done.
If ever I want to edit the pattern, I can simply double-click on its swatch in the Swatches panel, which will bring me back into the Pattern Editing Mode.
Related: Pattern Tool in Illustrator CS6
Save the Swatches
I want to make another pattern. I'll choose File > Save As, name the new document "pattern_2" and click Save, then Ok. I'll then use the Selection tool to click and drag over the entire canvas, which will select all the circles, then press Delete. To make stripes, I'll use the Rectangle tool to make several long rectangles, and fill them with the same colors that I used earlier when making my circles.
I'll then choose File > Save. To make my composition into a pattern, I'll choose Select > All, then Object > Pattern > Make. I'll name the pattern "stripes" and click Done.
Make a Handle
It's important to add the two new swatches to the Swatches Library. So, in the Swatches panel, I will hold down the Shift key as I click on all the swatches that I don't want, and drag them to the delete icon at the bottom of the panel, which looks like a small trash can. I'll then click on the Swatches Library Menu icon and choose Save Swatches. I'll name the set "dots_stripes" and click Save. To save the document, I'll choose File > Save, then close the window.
Apply Patterns
Getting back to my basket file, I want to make a handle for the basket. But first, I need to adjust the size of my artboard. I'll double-click on the Artboard tool and change its height to 8 inches, set both the x and y coordinates to 0 inches, and click OK. Now I have room below the square to draw a handle.
With the Rectangle tool, I will draw a thin, 1/2-inch or slightly less rectangle that equals length of the square.
In the Options bar, I'll change the stroke width to 0.75 points. I'll also set the Fill color to None.
Hide Layers
I will use the Rectangle tool to create a rectangle that fills the entire artboard, then set the Stroke to None, and choose Object > Arrange > Send to Back. To apply the dot pattern to the large rectangle, I need to click on the Swatches Menu Library icon, choose User Defined > dots_stripes, and click on the dots swatch. I'll then choose File > Save, and click OK.
To apply the stripe pattern, I'll click on the stripes swatch, choose File > Save As, name the new file "basket_2" and click Save, then OK.
Print It
To open the Layers panel, I will choose Window > Layers. Because I want to print the pattern on one side of my cardstock and the template lines for the basket on the other side, I will need to hide certain sublayers before printing.
With the basket_2 file open, and in the Layers panel, I will click on the small arrow next to Layer 1 to view all its sublayers. I'll then click on all the sublayer eye icons, except for the last one.
This will hide everything on the artboard except for my stripe pattern.
Cut and Score
I'll place my 8.5-inch by 11-inch piece of light weight cardstock in the printer, and choose File > Print.
I now need to go back into the Layers panel and click on the eye icon for the stripe pattern to make it invisible, and click in the empty spaces where the other eye icons once were, so to view them again and to make the template lines reappear on the artboard. I'll then print the template on the opposite side of the cardstock.
Every printer is different, so before printing I want to be sure as to which way the paper should feed in, and if it should be face side up or face side down in order to print on the opposite side.
Once the basket_2 file has been printed on both sides, I will print the basket file in the same way.
Fold and Fasten
Using scissors or an X-Acto blade, I want to cut just inside the solid black lines of both the square and thin rectangle, then cut along the dotted lines within the square.
To score the cardstock, which simply means to create indent lines for better creases when folding, I will use a pencil to lightly mark two inches in from all sides of the square, place the cardstock on a magazine or rubbery cutting mat, line my ruler up to my pencil marks, and run the edge of a bone folder or the back of a butter knife along the edge of the ruler; making a grid of nine equal squares.
I will erase any visible pencil marks on the square and fold the cardstock along the scoring lines. Using a push pin, I'll then make a hole about 1/2-inch in from the top of the rectangle, then make another 1/2-inch in from the bottom. I'll also fold along the scoring lines to form a basket, then use the push pin to make a hole on each side of the basket, about 1-inch down from the top, and where the folded parts overlap.
I want to line up the holes on the rectangle with the holes on the basket, and use brass paper fasteners to secure the rectangle to the basket. This will give my basket a handle. After I make my second basket, I'll be done! I'll have two baskets, each ready to hold a decorated cupcake or fill with Easter candy.
Cupcake Recipes, Tips, and Decorating Ideas
• Easter Cupcake Recipes and Decorating Ideas
• Easter Cupcakes
• Cupcake Recipes
• Cupcake Hints and Tips
• Chocolate Easter Cupcakes with Advocaat Frosting
• Baby Chick Cupcakes
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