Create a hot air balloon using the Blend Tool and the Live Paint Tool. Easy steps and a very cool looking icon of a hot air balloon in some clouds. 

Start with a circle. Add a tall rectangle to the bottom of the circle. 

Select both shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make them one shape. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the two corner widgets on the inside corners as shown and pull the corner widgets out.

This is the result of the corner widget pull. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the right half of the balloon. Copy and paste the shape. 

Paste the shape again and flip it over to create two halfs. Place them together so they touch at the top. Select the Blend Tool (shortcut is W). 

Double Click on the the Blend Tool and choose Specified Steps from the drop down menu and set the number of steps to 5. Click OK. 
Click with the Blend Tool on the lower left point of the Balloon (shown in the last step), then the lower right point as shown. 

The Blend Tool will blend the one shape into the other shape creating all the needed shapes to match the transition between the two. 

The Blend Shape needs to be expanded to be able to convert the shapes into a Live Paint Object. Choose Object>Expand. Click OK. 

With the shapes expanded (it will not look any different), add a rectangle to the bottom of the balloon to anchor it. ​

Select all the shapes and choose Object> Live Paint> Make. Live Paint objects will have snowflake looking pull handles. 

Select the Live Paint Bucket Tool (K). On the upper part of the Live Paint Bucket Cursor are 3 boxes, this is you color palette. Use the left or right arrows to scroll through the color palette indicator. The center color of the 3 is your color choice. Click in the area you want to add that chosen color. 

Add a rectangle underneath for the basket. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower two points and pull in the Corner Widgets slightly. 

Add a top to the basket with a rounded corner rectangle. 

Add attaching lines to the balloon and the basket. 

To change the color of all the strokes, select one of the attaching lines, then choose Select>Same>Stroke Color.

With all the same stroke color selected, change the color of the strokes. 

To create the cloud, start with a circle. 

Duplicate the circle half way over the original. 

Use COMMAND + D to duplicate the circle several times. 

Select a set of circles, copy it and move it half way up the group. Repeat the step again, with a smaller group. 

Select all the shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make all the shapes one unit. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to delete the lower section of the cloud

With the open cloud, use COMMAND + J to join the shapes together. 

Add a fill to the cloud and place it in front of the balloon. 

Add lines with (hot dogged ends) in front and behind clouds and the balloon. Happy flying.

Unleash the power of Illustrator by creating this cordless drill. Simple shapes and easy to assemble, this "drills" down to the basics and the results are stunning.

Start with a rectangle. No stroke, color fill. 

Select the right end with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the Corner Widgets into the max amount. 

Create a rectangle, filled with gray the same height as the body.

Create a small black rectangle to the left of the gray rectangle. 

Create another gray rectangle to the left of the black rectangle, the same height as the body. 

Create a smaller gray rectangle to the left.

Add a rectangle to the form the handle. 

Create another rectangle for the base. 

Select all three shapes and duplicate them for later use. 

Select the three shapes create one shape using the Pathfinder Unite mode.

From the copied body parts, duplicate the handle, fill it with a darker color.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the upper right edge and pull the Corner Widget in slightly to round the corner. Copy the shape. 

Select the body, click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. 

Paste the shape into the body and move it to the left side to create the grip. Click on the Draw Normal mode when done. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the body corners as shown. Click on one corner, then SHIFT click on the other corners to select those. 

Pull the Corner Widgets out to create rounded corners. 

From the copied parts, select the top section and create an offset path. Object>Offset Path. 

Move the smaller offset path to the body of the drill and fill it with a darker color. 

Repeat the process with the bottom of the drill body from the previously copied shapes. Select the bottom section and repeat the offset path function. Add the shape to the lower section. 

Copy the center section of the previously copied body sections and scale it down to form the trigger. Fill it with a darker color. 

Create an oval over the trigger. 

Select both the oval and trigger and use the Minus Front mode in the Pathfinder Panel. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower left corner and pull the corner widget in to create a slight rounded corner. 

Create lines for vents. Round the ends (hot dog the ends) in the Stroke Panel.

Select the lines, group them and CUT them. Select the darker shape, choose the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar and paste the lines into the shape. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done. 

Draw a darker line at the head of the drill. Hot dog the ends. 

In the Appearance Panel, add another stroke to the selected stroke by clicking on the Add Stroke button in the lower left of the Appearance Panel. 

Select the head of the drill, click on the Draw Inside Mode and paste the lines inside.

Position the grouped lines to line up with the edge of the shape shape before the edge tapers. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done. 

Create two line for the drill tip. Group them together. CUT the group, 

Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done. ​

Create rounded rectangles for the neck of the drill. Group the shapes, then CUT them.

Create a rectangle for the battery on the base of the drill. 

Select the lower edges with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the Corner Widgets in to round the corners. 

Add a line with hot dog ends as a shadow line on the battery.

Add two more lines, one on the handle and one on the body to create highlight and shadow lines. 

Nice Job, you have just create a cordless drill.

This tutorial just looks complicated but it just some cool tricks with gradients and come glow effects that make it look shiny and dimensional. This method can be used to create any type of buttons or shapes with raised surfaces. Simple black and white gradient, Inner Glow and Outer Glow Effects are all that is used to create this look.

Start the body with a rectangle, fill with 80% black, no stroke. 

Select the Free Transform Tool. 

Select the Curvature Tool and click on the top part of the shape and pull the curve up. 

Select the Direct Selection Tool and select the shape to activate the Corner Widgets. Pull them in toward the center to round the corners. 

Choose Object>Path>Offset Path to create a path inside the first path. Add a 10pt stroke in black to the new shape, no fill. 

Select the new shape, choose Object>Path>Outline Stroke. 

Apply an Inner Glow to the new path. Choose Effect>Stylize>Inner Glow. Set the Mode to Screen, color to 35% black, Opacity to 75% and blur to 3 mm and set to the center. 

This is the result of the Inner Glow giving the look of a raised edge. 

Divide the shape into section using lines, 10pt stoke weight. Make sure the lines touch the outline of the inner shape. 

Select the lines and the outer raised shape, use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to join them all together as one shape. 

To create a chrome divider bar, draw a line, 10pt weight in white. Outline the path to create a shape from the line. 

Add a gradient fill to the line from the gradient panel, set the direction to -90°. Add an outer glow to the line from the Effects Menu. 
Set the mode to Screen, 35% gray, opacity of 75%, blur of 3mm coming from the center. 

In the Appearance Panel, click on the Stroke link and set the stroke alignment around the chrome divider to the outside.

This is the chrome bar result. 

Select the original shape and choose Offset Path. This time set the amount to the inside of twice the amount that we did for the first raised shape. 

This creates a shape inside the shape to make the buttons.

Move the new offset shape next to the artwork. Draw lines 30pts in weight to match the dividers in the main body.

Select all the lines drawn, choose Object> Path> Offset Path. 

Select all the outlined paths and the background shape, select the Shape Builder Tool. Hold down the OPTION/ALT key to remove the rectangles from between the shapes, leaving only the "buttons"

Place the newly created buttons over the body.

With the buttons selected, apply an Inner Glow effect. Choose Effect> Stylize> Inner Glow. Set the Mode to Screen, color to 35% black, Opacity to 75% and blur to 6 mm and set to the edge. 

This is the result of the inner glow on the buttons. 

Select all the buttons and perform another offset path to create button slightly smaller (set the path to a negative number) inside the original buttons.

Apply a gradient fill with an angle of -90° to create a light to dark gradient from to to bottom. 

Add a 3 pt 80% black stroke, 

Apply an Inner Glow to the inner buttons. Screen Mode, 25% black, opacity of 25%, 6mm blur and set to the edge. 

In the Appearance Panel it will show what the inner button attributes are. To edit these attributes if necessary, click on the underlined links.

This is the result of the gradients on the buttons. 

For the start, draw a circle, 10pt 20% black stroke, no fill.

Select one section of the circle with the Direct Selection Tool and delete it. 

Add an arrow to the end in the Stroke Panel, set the arrow head to be 40% scale, hot dog the ends of the line. Outline the path and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to make it one shape

Add an inner glow. Set the mode to Multiply, 80% black, opacity of 75%, blur of .9 mm and set to the edge. 

To create the horn or panic button, create a triangle and square. Stroke 10 pt and no fill. Use the Pathfinder Unite mode to make it one shape. Outline the stroke.

To create the sound waves, draw using the Polar Grid Tool. While drawing use the UP /DOWN arrows to create more / less concentric circles. Use the LEFT arrow to remove all the dividers.

Select the sections to remove using the Direct Selection Tool leaving only 1/4 of the circles. Outline the stroke to create shapes. 

Add an inner glow. Set the mode to Multiply, 80% black, opacity of 75%, blur of .9 mm and set to the edge. ​

​Add an outer glow. Set the mode to Multiply, 100% black, opacity of 25%, blur .9mm. 

This is the result of of the icons. 

Create the lock / unlock icons using a square and a circle. For the lock use a circle and a narrow triangle. Unite the circle and narrow triangle. Knock the lock out of the main body using the Pathfinder Exclude more. 

For the unlock, rotate the circle to create an open lock. Outline the paths on the locks. Select both locks, select the Eyedropper Tool and click on the start button icon to pick up the inner and outer glow and fill attributes. 

This is the result of the locks. 

To create a trunk icon, create a circle, rounded rectangle and a partial triangle. 

Draw a line for a trunk. Add a 10pt stroke to all the shapes, no fill. 

Outline the shapes, select the Eyedropper Tool and click on the lock button icons to pick up the inner and outer glow and fill attributes. CUT the trunk icon. 

Select the button and choose the Draw Inside Mode at the Bottom of the Tool bar. Paste the trunk icon inside. Click on the Draw Normal Mode when done. 

For the window open icon, create a rectangle. Use the Direct Selection Tool to move the top point to angle the window. Select the top two corners to activate the Corner widgets and pull them in. 

Draw a vertical line, add arrow heads from the stroke panel. Scale the size of the arrow heads to fit the line. Outline the window and the arrow head. 

Select the Eyedropper Tool and click on the start button icon to pick up the inner and outer glow and fill attributes. 

Put all the pieces together and you have a remote. Job well done.

'Tis the season for yummy things. So why not make a gingerbread cookie with a wonderful texture and a warm fringe around the edge and put some icing on it for fun.

Start the body with a rectangle. Add a fill, no stroke. 

Select the bottom two corners with the Direct Selection Tool and pull the Corner Widgets in to the center. 

Duplicate the shape and rotate on leg 10° using the Transform panel and the other -10°. Overlap them slightly.

Duplicate the leg and use them as the arms. Overlap them on the legs. 

Draw a circle for the head. Select all the shapes and use the Unite Mode in the Pathfinder Panel to combine the shapes. 

With the Direct Selection Tool, select the arm and leg corners to activate the Corner Widgets. The red line is the area to drag over to highlight the corners, then drag the corners out slightly to round the angles. 

Select the body shape and use the Object>Path>Offset path to create a path inside the main shape.

Add a stroke to the offset path, remove the fill color. 

Add texture to the body. To create texture, here is the tutorial on how to create a vector image trace of a texture. 

Copy the texture, select the main shape and click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. 

Paste the texture into the shape, fill it a slightly darker color.

Add a curved line to the arms and legs. 

Apply a Zig Zag effect to the lines from the Effect>Distort & Transform> Zig Zag. 

Apply the effect to all the curved lines. 

Add circles with fills for the buttons. 

Add eyes and an arc for the mouth. 

To create a darker edge on the cookie, select the main image and apply an Inner Glow under Effects> Stylize> Inner Glow. Set the Mode to multiply, ass a slightly darker color and set the opacity at 50% and click the Edge radio button. 

Here is your freshly created gingerbread cookie. 

Grab a handle full of popcorn and watch a movie. Here is how you make this tasty treat and create the bucket it goes in. 

Start with 3 circles, add a heavy stroke and no fill

Select all three circles, select the Shape Builder Tool and hold OPTION/ALT (this will turn the cursor into the delete cursor) and hover the cursor over the line you want to delete. Remove the 3 lines in the triangle center first, then the outer arcs.

This is the end result of the removal of the lines using the Shape Builder Tool.

Duplicate the set of shapes, change the stroke to a lighter color and rotate the shape slightly. 

Place the new set behind the original set to create an offset popped kernel.

To create the bucket of pop corn, create a circle, then duplicate it at a 45° so they overlap slightly. 

Use COMMAND + D to repeat the duplicate.

Select all the duplicates shapes and use the Unite Mode in the Pathfinder Panel. 

Duplicate and flip the set of circles, line then up with the circles at the top. 

Use the Direct Select Tool to select and remove the inner section of the lines.

Draw arcs with the Arc Tool and add some lighter strokes. Place the arcs around the pile of pop corn to give it some dimension.

For the bucket, create a vertical rectangle.

Duplicate the rectangle to the side so they snap together. 

Duplicate the shapes so you end up with an odd number of rectangle. Alternate the fills with red/white to create the stripes. 

Select the Free Transform Tool and select the Perspective Tool from the transform panel. 

Select all the rectangles and click on the corner handle with the Free Transform Tool and pull in to give it a wedge shape. 

Duplicate the rectangles, use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create a solid shape. Add a darker stroke and no fill. This is the outline of the bucket. 

Place the darker outlined shape on the stripes. Add lines to the top and bottom of the bucker, hot dog the end of the lines. 

Place the pop corn pile behind the bucket. 

Add some fun popped kernels made in the first few steps. Grab a handful and enjoy!