Home Photoshop Web Layout How to Create a Christmas Wreath Vector Illustration

How to Create a Christmas Wreath Vector Illustration

Added: May 17, 2011 Level: Beginner Software: Photoshop

This is the final result.

I will create a document inside Adobe illustrator. ( File - New ). You can use any size you want.
I will select Pen Tool and I will create a simple vertical shape. For this shape I will use a simple gradient.

I will use one more time Pen Tool to create a small pine leaf.

I will duplicate the leaf several times and I will place them like in the following image. To duplicate the leaf you can press on CTRL+C to copy the leaf to clipboard, and then press on CTRL+F to place in place.
With Selection tool I will place the small leaves like in the following image.

Here are the colors I have used for this small leaf.

I will select all the leaves, and I will duplicate them. If the leaves are selected you can right click on them and choose Transform - Reflect ( select vertical )

I will select all elements ( CTRL+A ) and I will copy and paste in place. I will change the color for leaves with the following gradient

I will move this set of duplicated items to the top with a few pixels. this is my result so far.

At the top I will create another small leaves

I will select all the leaves (CTRL+A ) and I will place them in a group ( CTRL+G )
I will use warp tool to create different types of leaves. you can find Warp tool in the effect menu

I will select Ellipse Tool and I will create a circle. this circle will guide me to place the leaves in a circular position

I will place some set of leaves around the circle

I will delete the red shape, because I don't need it anymore

I will start to add different leaves around the initial ones.

This is my final vector wreath

I will create another type of leaf with Pen Tool

I will use the following gradient

I will use Pen Tool to create another abstract shapes.

I will use another Gradients. this is my result so far

I will duplicate this leaf and I will place it like in the following image.

With Ellipse Tool I will create a red shape

This is the gradient I have used

I will create another one and I will place it like in the following image

Here you have the colors I have used for the gradient.

I will create another fruits, and I will place them like in the following image

With Selection Tool I will place the red fruits over the big leaves. I will group these elements ( CTRL+G )

I will duplicate several time this group and I will place it over the Christmas wreath

Now I will create a Christmas tree ball
I will create a shape with Ellipse Tool

And I will add a simple gradient.

I will select Rectangle Tool, and I will create a rectangle.

I will go to Effect - Warp - Bulge and my shape will look like this one

Make sure you go to Object - Expand. and then place this shape over the round shape

I will try to create some shadows and highlights over the round shape. One more time I will use Pen Tool

Now I will create the metallic part of this Christmas tree ball. I will use Pen Tool to create the shape I want, and then I will use a gradient. Here is the shape I made

Below you have the gradient I have used for this metal area.

At the top I will create another circle. I have used the same gradient

I will add another shape ( made with Pen Tool ), and then I will add a feather effect (Effect - Stylize - Feather ). The shape was made with a white color.

I will duplicate this Christmas tree ball several times and I will change the color and the size. I will place each ball around the Christmas wreath.

I will create a vector scarf with Pen Tool.

This is the gradient I have used.

With Pen Tool I will create another strange shape over this scarf. In this way I will create some shadows.

I will duplicate this scarf and I will place it like in the following image.

Now I will create another elements to complete this shiny scarf.

Here I will create an area where I will place another gradient. The scarf will have a shiny look

I will duplicate this part of the scarf and I will place it like in the following image.

I will duplicate this part of the scarf and I will place it on the left side

In the middle of the scarf I will create another shape with Pen Tool.

I will change the gradient to the following one

And this is my result

The next step is to create a candle
I will use Rectangle Tool to create a vertical shape, and then I will go to Effect - Warp - Arc Lower
Note : do not forget to expand the shape: Object - Expand

The gradient I have used is the following one

At the bottom of the candle I will create another shape with Ellipse Tool

And I will use the following gradient

This is my result so far

On the top part I will create another shape with Ellipse Tool. Here I will place the flame

With  dark color I will create the candle fuse

I will create the flame with Pen Tool

I will duplicate the flame, and I will change the color to white, and then I will apply the feather effect. You can also lower the opacity to 10-20 %

I will duplicate the flame layer and I will modify the size and the color

Again I will duplicate one more time and one more time I will use the feather effect.

This is the gradient I have used for the last shape

I will select all the layers with flames and I will place them above the candle fuse

With Pen Tool I will create a strange shape which will represent the melted wax

At the middle of the candle I will create another shape. this shape was made with Rectangle Tool and then I have used the Arch effect ( Effect - Warp - Arch )