Match Book

Create a matchbook with a drop shadow. This uses a blend to create the match sticks and the match heads. Really quite simple!

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Start with a rectangle. Heavy stroke around the shape. 

With the Direct Selection tool, select the lower corners of the rectangle. 

In the Transform panel, unlink the link icon between the corner values, set the lower corners to a 20 pt radius.

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Copy and Paste In Place the shape. Drag the right side to the left until it stops (the radius of the corner widgets at the bottom will stop it).

Draw a rectangle over the bottom of the shapes. Fill it with white. Center the left side in the middle of the small rectangle. Hang  the right edge over about the width of the small rectangle. 

Select the white rectangle and the small rectangle. Select the Shape Builder too and hold Option/Alt to turn the cursor into the subtract cursor. 

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Remove the two sections as shown. 

Select the lower right side of the white rectangle and pull the corner widget in to match the 20 pt radius of the other rectangles. 

Add a small rectangle to the top of the shape, same width as the large rectangle. 

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Use the Direct Selection tool to select and move the top to the right. This will create a pointed tangent where the shapes meet. 

To correct these point, select the shapes and in the Stroke panel, set the Corner to rounded. This will eliminate those akward points. 

Duplicate the shape again and align it to the previous shape. 

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Use the Direct Selection tool to select and move the bottom of the rectangle to the right. This will create the cover of the match book. 

Draw another rectangle to make the matches. 

Send the shape backward. Object>Arrange>Send Backward to place it behind the front lower rectangle.

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Draw a line on the left to create a separation between the matches. Duplicate the line on the right side as well. 

Select both lines and choose Object>Blend>Blend Options…. Set the Spacing to Specified Steps and set the number to 7. Click OK. 

Choose Object>Blend>Make. This will create lines in between the two lines.

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Create a match head by creating a rectangle filled with red. Round the top corners of the match head with the Direct Selection tool and pull in the Corner Widgets slightly. 

Duplicate the match head on the far end of the sticks. 

Select both shapes and choose Object>Blend>Make. The same setting used to create the match stick vertical lines will blend using the 7 steps setting last set. 

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These match heads can be scaled and made taller or shorter by selecting the head and pulling the bounding box handles. Add a line for the staple on the lower flap.

Duplicate the top rectangle. 

Fill the shape with black, remove the stroke. Set the opacity to 30% and the blending mode to Multiply to create the shadow shape. 

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Bring the top flap to the front. Object>Arrange>Bring to front. 

Select the shadow shape and the background shape. Select the Shape Builder tool and hold option/alt and click on the area to remove as shown 

Add a color fill to the lower flap and you have yourself a match book!