1. Card Design How to Mrs Ras

2. Open Illustrator File>New

3. Save a image from the internet that you want to use to trace with pen tool. I am going to do an animal themed cards so I am going to choose a lion for my kings cards

4. File< place your image Lock the image layer add new layer

5. In the new layer trace with the outside shape. I only plan to do the head so I traced the mane as my outside shape

6. Now I am going to trace any details I need on the inside 1) add new layer on top 2) toggle off the last tracing

7. In new layer begin tracing details. Remember for every detail you trace you should put them in their own LAYERS

8. Use the direct selection tool to drag and perfect your shapes

9. Continue tracing and adding details … in new LAYERS

10. Complete all details

11. Now that you have pen tooled all the details out choose fills for all of them. Try to use two to three “Like Colors” you can find different shades of the same colors in the swatch library

12. Toggle off the reference picture T

13. Select all the image edit>copy Edit > paste rotate paste

14. Open your card symbol

15. Add new layer and add background I am going to add a card symbol I copied the symbol and pasted it to a new layer

16. Move the layer to background and adjust size and placement

17. Add a card symbol to the front add new layer and paste symbol adjust color and size

18. At this point play around with colors and graphic styles or textures to your shapes Window>Swatches click on library and scroll through

19. Add decorative boarders by click on shape and going into the stroke library

20. Add card symbol to top and bottom of card

21. Use the text tool and add the Letter

22. Finish off the card maybe add another color to the background