Adobe Illustrator can be a little tricky to get your hands around, particularly after getting used to the workflow of applications like Photoshop. The differences between layer use and the creation of objects and shapes can be really strange at first hand.

In this tutorial we’ll learn how to create a wooden crib using Adobe Illustrator. You will create simple objects, fill them with the gradient, create wooden surface for the shapes and then add some details to create a clean vector illustration.

Let’s get started!

Final Result

Let’s see what you will be creating in this tutorial.

Create a Wooden Baby Crib in Illustrator

Step 1: Create a fixative frame

First, we’ll create a fixative frame to draw shapes easier in the future. Now create a vertical line and then rotate it an angle of about -60 degrees. Next create other vertical line and then rotate it an angle of about 75 degrees. Select the shorter line and go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter the data as shown in the third image and then click Copy.

Select the longer line and go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter the data as shown below and then click Copy. Next crop unwanted parts to get the result as shown in the second image below. Next select and group (Ctrl+G) four newly created lines.

Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the newly created group once time. While the copy selected, go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Scale. Check the Uniform and enter a 120 percent in the Scale and then click OK. Change the color of the result to blue and then move it 150px up.

Create four red lines as shown below.

Step 2: Create the "wooden surface" groups.

In this step, we’ll create "wooden surfaces" for shapes. Now create objects and then fill them as shown below. Next select two newly created shapes and blend them as shown in the third image below.

Continue create an object and then fill it with R=207, G=154, B=89. Next go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 4 pixel Radius and then click OK.

Continue created two objects and then fill them as shown below. Select two newly created shapes and blend them as shown in the third image below.

Continue create an object and then fill it with R=255, G=196, B=125. Next go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 5 pixel Radius and then click OK.

Continue created two objects and then fill them as shown below. Select two newly created shapes and blend them as shown in the third image below.

Continue created two objects and then fill them as shown below. Next select two newly created shapes and blend them as shown in the third image below.

Create two objects and then fill them as shown below.

Do the same as the previous steps to get the result like you see in the image below. Finally select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created from beginning step 2 to this time.

Repeat the same techniques as the previous step to create some other "wooden surface" groups.

Step 3: Create legs of the crib.

Create a black shape as shown below. Next fill it with the radial gradient.

Now create the "wooden surface" for the newly created shape. First, duplicate the newly created shape once time. We’ll use this copy as the clipping path. Next select a "wooden surface " and press (Ctrl +C) to copy it. Next click on the clipping path and press Ctrl + V (At this time, the copy above the clipping path). Press (Ctrl + Left Square Braket ) once time to send the copy backward and then place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next select both the copy and the clipping path and go to the Object menu/ Clipping Mask/Make (Ctrl+7). Finally lowered Opacity of the result to 40%

Continue create two black objects and then fill them with linear gradient as shown below. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) two newly created shapes and go to the Effect menu/ Texture/ Texturizer… Enter the data as shown in the third image below and then click OK. Finally lowered Opacity of results to 50%.

Now we’ll create a spherical group. Pick the Ellipse tool (L) and use it to create a black object. Then fill it with the radial gradient.

Create "wooden surface" for the newly created shape (Do the same like the beginning of the step 3 but use other "wooden surface" group)

Continue working with the Ellipse tool (L). Use this tool to create a black object and then fill it with R=0, G=0, B=0. Next go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 1 pixel in the Radius and then click OK. Next press (Ctrl + Left Square Bracket) twice times to get the result as shown in the third image below. Finally select and group (Ctrl+G) all shapes created in this step.

Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the newly created group twice times and then place the copies to the correct positions as shown in the first image below. Now we’ll change the positions of "wooden surface" groups for two newly created groups (This will create different spherical shapes). Double click twice times on a spherical group want edit. Next select the "wooden surface" group and move it to the new position. Then double click twice times on the anywhere outside of the group just edited. Next repeat the same techniques for the remaining spherical group. In the end your work should look roughly like the fourth image.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Click on the anywhere inside the document. Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object menu/Expand Appearance. Now place the result to the correct position as shown in the first image below. Then fill the result with the radial gradient.

Create "wooden surface" for the newly created shape (Do the same like the beginning of the step 3)

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Click on the anywhere inside the document. Enter the data as shown in the first image below and then click OK. Next double click on the Shear tool button from the Tool palette. Enter a 20 Shear angle and check the Vertical and then click OK. Now place the result to the correct position as shown in the first image below. Next fill the result with the radial gradient. Continue create a red shape and then place it as shown in the second image below.

Fill two newly created objects with the linear gradient.

Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) two newly created shapes one time. Next go to the Effect menu/ Texture/ Texturizer. Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next lowered their Opacity to 50%.

Select and duplicate the spherical group once time. Next remove the shadow part of the copy, resize the copy, bring it to front and then place it to the correct position as shown below. Do the same as the previous step to get the result as shown in the second image below.

Select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 3 to this time. Duplicate this group once time. While the copy selected, go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Scale. Check the None-Uniform and enter a 110 % Vertical and then click OK. Next place the result to the correct position as shown in the image below.

Duplicate the newly created group and then place the copy to the correct position as shown in the first image. While the copy selected, double click on the Rotate tool button from the Tool palette. Enter a -15 degrees Angle and then click OK. Next adjust the part highlighted with the black arrow to get the result as shown in the final image.

Do the same as the previous step to get the result as shown in the final image below.

Step 4: Create the horizontal bar for the crib

Create a black object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown below.

Create "wooden surface" for the newly created shape (Do the same like the beginning of the step 3 but select an other "wooden surface" group).

Continue create a black object, fill it and then create a "wooden surface" for it as shown below.

Now we’ll add some details for the horizontal bar. Pick the Pen tool (P) and then use this tool to create a black line. Next open the stroke panel (Window menu/ Stroke) and then set the values like you see in the image.

Create an object as shown in the first image and then set the values like you see in the second image.

Continue create shapes and then fill them as shown below.

Continue create other horizontal bars. Draw a black object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown below.

Create a "wooden surface" for the newly created shape

Create a black object and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown below.

Create the wooden surface for the newly created shape

Add some details for this horizontal bar.

Continue create shapes and then fill them as shown below.

Do the same as the previous steps to create shapes below. In the end it should look like the fifth image shown.

Continue create shapes and fill them as shown below.

Create "wooden surface" for the newly created shape (Do the same like the beginning of the step 3 but select other "wooden surface" group). Next add some details for this horizontal bar.

Now pick the Pen tool (P) and use this tool to create a black object as shown in the first image. Once your object is drawn, reselect it and then open the Move dialog box (Object menu/ Transform/ Move ). Enter the data as shown in the second image and then click Copy.

Reselect the first black object created in this step and then duplicate it once time. Now select two newly created objects and click on the Minus Back button from the Pathfinder palette. Next ungroup the result. Select and fill the object as shown in the second image below with the linear gradient. Next create "wooden surface" for this shape.

Continue select and fill objects as shown below.

Now we’ll add some details for this horizontal bar. First, pick the Pen tool (P) and use it to create three curves. Once your objects is drawn, open the Stroke palette (Window/ Stroke). Next enter the data as shown below.

Continue use the Pen tool (P) to create an object as shown in the first image. Next set the values like you see in the second image.

Create a black object as shown below. Next repeat the same techniques as the previous step for the newly created object. In the end it should look like the final image shown.

Now open the Layers palette by choosing Show Layers from the Window menu. Double click on the name of the layer you working on and then change the name of it to "Back_Frame". Next create a new layer by clicking on the layer icon on the bottom of the Layers palette. Name of the new layer is " Front_Frame". Now select shapes as shown below and press (Ctrl +X) to cut them. Next click on the name of the "Front_Frame" layer and then press (Ctrl +F).

Step 5: Create leg stands for the crib

Create a black object as shown in the first image. Next reselect the newly created object and go to the Object menu/ Transform/ Move. Enter the data as shown in the second image and then click Copy.

Reselect the first black object created in this step and then duplicate it once time. Next pick the Direct Selection tool (A), hold down Shift and click on eight anchor points highlighted with red. Then click on the "Cut path selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar.

In the images below, I changed the color of objects to realize them easier. Now select and remove two yellow objects. Next we’ll connect two red objects together. Select two anchor points highlighted with red and click on the " Connect selected end points" button from the Properties bar. Do the same for two anchor points highlighted with green. Repeat the same techniques for the remaining same color objects. In the end it should look like the fourth image shown.

Select and fill the object as shown below with the linear gradient.

Next create "wooden surface" for the newly created shape.

Select and fill the shapes as shown below with the linear gradient.

Add some details for the leg stand.

Now create a new layer and move it to the bottom position in the Layer palette. Next change the name of this layer to "Leg_Stand". Select and group (Ctrl + G) all shapes created from beginning step 5 to this time. Next cut newly created group (Ctrl +X), click on the "Leg_Stand" layer and then press (Ctrl +Shift +V) to paste in place.

Next duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) this group once time and then place the copy to the correct position as shown below.

Double click on the "wooden surface" position of the newly created group twice times. Next select the "wooden surface" group and move it to an other position. Finally, double-click on the anywhere outside of the group just edited twice times.

Create an object and then set values like you see in the images below

Step 6: Create the vertical bars

Now we’ll work on the " Front_Frame" layer (by click on the "Front_Frame" layer in the Layer palette). Pick the Ellipse (L). Next use this tool to create two black objects as shown below.

Fill the newly created object with the radial gradient. Next create "wooden surface" for this object.

Now fill the ellipse object with the radial gradient and then create "wooden surface " for it.

Select and group (Ctrl +G) all spherical shapes created in this step. Duplicate it once time, next press (Ctrl+ Right Square Bracket) twice times and then place the result to the correct position as shown in the final image below.

Select and group all shapes created from beginning the step 6 to this time. Next duplicate this group once time and then move the copy to the position as shown in the second image below.

Adjust the newly created group as the result shown in the first image. Next change the position of the "wooden surface" group.

Repeat the same techniques as previous steps to create other vertical bars. In the end it should look like the final image shown.

Copy a vertical bar group. Next make the " Front_Frame" layer invisible by clicking on the eye icon that appears on the left side of this layer in the Layer palette. Next click on the "Back_Frame" layer and paste the copy in this layer. Repeat the same techniques as previous steps to create other vertical bars.

Step 7: Create a cushion for the crib.

Now create lines as shown in the first image below. Next select all lines and click on the Divide button from the Pathfinder palette. Add a 1px Stroke (black color) (fill: None) for the result and then ungroup this result.

Edit the shape of the top object as shown below.

Do the same for the remaining objects.

Reselect the top object and fill it with the radial gradient.

Do the same for the remaining objects.

Create two black objects and then fill them with the radial gradient as shown below. Next send them to back (Ctrl +Shift + Left Square Bracket).

Now continue create a black object as shown in the first image. Next fill it with R=255, G=199, B=130.

Continue create an object and then fill it with R=255, G=239, B=209.

Select two newly created shapes and go to the Object menu/ Blend/ Blend Option. Enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Next go to the Object menu/ Blend/ Make (Ctrl + Alt + B)

Create a new layer, name of it is "floor_cushion" and move this layer to position as shown below

Now we’ll create the shadow of the bars on the cushion. Create an object as shown in the first image. Next fill it with R=0, G=0, B=0 and go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 7 pixel in the Radius and then click OK. Next lowered Opactity of the result to 20%. Finally cut (Ctrl +X) this shape, then select the "floor_cushion" layer in Layer palette and paste in front (Ctrl +F).

Now create two black lines as shown in the first image below. Add a new stroke for two newly created lines, make them 1px wide and set the color with 50% black.

Step 8: Create shadows for the vertical bars

Create a black shape as shown below and then fill it with the radial gradient. While the result selected, go to the Effect menu/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur. Enter a 4 pixel in the Radius and then click OK. Next lowered its Opacity to 90%. Finally cut the result (Ctrl +X), click on the "floor_cushion" layer and paste in place (Ctrl +Shift +V).

Do the same as previous steps to create shadows for other vertical bars.

In the end it should look like the image shown.

Step 9: Create shadow for the crib

Draw a black shape and then fill it with the linear gradient as shown below. Next cut the result (Ctrl +X), click on the "Leg_Stand" layer and paste in back (Ctrl +B).send the result to back

Now we’ll create a background for your crib. First, create a new layer, name of it is "Background" and then place it below other layers. Next pick the Rectangle tool (M) and then use this tool to create a 600px by 600px object. Finallly fill the newly created object with the radial gradient as shown below.

Final Result

Here’s the final result. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial.

Conclusion

As difficult as it looks I’m very sure if you follow my tutorial you will find a lot of help using your skills and images to produce your own creation! Ones again Thank you for using our tutorial, we will be very happy to answer any questions that you may have, You can simply leave a feedback and or a comment bellow.