christmas

Vintage Christmas Ads

AoiroStudio — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:15:24 +0000

Christmas time is a great opportunity to find time and enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Every time, there's Christmas, there's just ads everywhere we look. It got me inspired to look and share this collection of vintage Christmas ads, what really stroked me is the ads were so simple and yet so informative. Also it's also great to see the needs of people really differ from our present time.

Christmas gift suggestions: to your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold

You can find more vintage Christmas ads by visiting this Flickr.

About the author

My name's François Hoang and my alias's Aoiro Studio. I am a self-taught freelance graphic designer from Montreal, Canada. I've been designing for the last 4 years and really have a huge passion for creative work that makes a difference in our world. If you wanna requests some posts; I can be found on Twitter or feel free to contact me.

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Merry Christmas from Abduzeedo

abduzeedo — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:02:24 +0000

We here over at Abduzeedo wish you a Merry Christmas to all of you. We know that it's last minute but just in case you haven't sent a greetings card to your beloved ones we are sharing an artwork created by Amanda Macedo.

Download the artwork in Illustrator

Download the illustrator file

About the author

Abduzeedo is a blog about design. There are all sorts of articles for those who want to look for inspiration. Also you will find very useful tutorials for the most used applications out there, with a special selection of Photoshop Tutorials and Illustrator Tutorials. You can get in follow us via Twitter at @abduzeedo

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Inspiring Shots of Christmas

paul0v2 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:39:33 +0000

Christmas is in the air, so I went to dribbble to select the best of what the design community is sharing about Christmas. Still time to make something nice for this Christmas. Enjoy!

About the author

Hi there! I'm Paulo Canabarro, 26 year old web designer - paulocanabarro.com I'm from Brazil currently living and working out of Providence RI, USA. I'm truly passionate about design of all kinds, finding and sharing inspiration here has become part of my life. If you like to know more about me or get in touch visit my website paulocanabarro.com Stock me at Twitter and Dribbble

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Create a Merry Christmas Zombie Poster in Illustrator

marcos333 — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 09:25:57 +0000

It's almost Christmas time and so we decided to make a cool Illustrator tutorial as a gift for you guys. Today we are going to learn how to make this Zombie Santa Claus Christmas Poster using some simple tips. I hope you like it.

Step 1

First of all, open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document ( ctrl + N / command + N ) with 21 cm width and 29.7 cm height. Now, using the Rectangle Tool ( M ) create a rectangle that fills the entire canvas, then using the Gradient Tool ( G ) create this green/blue fading to black gradient.

Download this grunge texture here open it in Illustrator and place it a layer above the gradient rectangle. Go to the Transparency panel and choose the Blending Mode called Multiply.

Create a rectangle on the left side using the Rectangle Tool ( M ) and access the gradient panel and choose the Fade to Black option

Then access the Transparency panel and choose the Blending Mode called Overlay. Duplicate this rectangle and do the same procedure on the right side of the canvas.

Finally, create another rectangle with the Rectangle tool ( M )and place it on the top of the canvas. Using the Eyedropper tool ( I ) copy the same gradient of the other rectangles, then go to the Transparency panel and select the blending mode called Multiply.

Step 2

Now we have to create some light lines, so create a rectangle with the Rectangle tool ( M ) and adjust it using the Direct selection tool ( A ) to look like this.

Create a light gradient fading to white, like this, then choose Transform > Rotate to 40 degrees.

Repeat this procedure until you have shapes like these, then make a Group (ctrl + G / command + G ) with them. Access the Transparency panel and choose the blending mode called Overlay.

You should get this final result for the background

Step 3

For the font I chose The Misfits font (the same from the Punk Rock band), you can download it here. Create a new layer and write "Merry Christmas" like the sample below.

Create Outlines and using the Gradient tool ( G ) create a red gradient like this.

Access Object > Path > Offset Path and choose a 0.1 cm offset, miter joins and 4 miter limit. Then add a silver gradient and you should get something like this.

Finally, send the letters to back and it should look like the sample below.

Step 4

Now let's make the little stars, it's pretty simple, first choose the Star tool and by clicking on the canvas once you'll access its panel, then choose Radius 1 with 0.1 cm, Radius 2 with 1.76 cm and 4 points. You should get a thin 4 point star, duplicate it, rotate it to look smaller, like the sample below.

Duplicate this little star using the Selection tool ( V ) + alt how ever many times you want, resize it and distribute it along the "Christmas" text.

Now group all these stars ( ctrl + G / command + G ) and duplicate them by using the Selection tool ( V ) + alt and access Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur set 10 pixels blur, you should get this result.

Finally, place this group above the other stars group, you should get this.

Step 5

So let's begin the main illustration, first create a circle using the Elipse tool ( L ), create a rectangle using the Rectangle tool ( M ) and place it above the circle. Then go to the Pathfinder panel and choose the shape mode called Minus front. You will get this mid circle, duplicate it by using the Selection tool ( V ) + alt.

Using the Gradient tool ( G ) create a gold gradient like this with the darkest part on the top. Duplicate it using the Selection tool ( V ) + alt, resize it and send it to back, than change the gradient direction using the Gradient tool ( G ) so the dark part is on the bottom of the shape.

Using the Ellipse tool ( L ) create these shapes and duplicate them like the sample below.

Using the Pen tool ( P ) make sharp shapes around the eyes to make them look tired.

We're going to make some hachures to give some depth, create a triangle using the Polygon tool and duplicate it using the Selection tool ( V ) + alt. Make a line of it, resize it and put it above the eye to look like an eyebrow.

Step 6

Let's create the nose. Make two circles using the Elipse tool ( L ) and create a purple/pink gradient. Than duplicate it Selection tool ( V ) + alt and change the gradient direction using the Gradient tool ( G ).

Step 7

Using the Ellipse tool ( L ) repeat the same procedure you did on step 5, make the shapes with the ellipses and triangles, make a clipping mask ( command + 7 / ctrl + 7 ) on it to fit on the shape.

Step 8

The first thing you should do in order to draw the brain is drawing these circles and lines with the Pencil tool ( N ), they don't have to look very detailed.

Well, then using the Pen tool ( P ) outline these shapes and make a part more sharper to look like a broken cranium. Also add a pink soft gradient and black stroke to it.

Using the Pencil tool ( N ) again, draw these cracks with a white stroke.

Step 9

Make the flies by using only the Ellipse tool ( L ), choose white fill for the wings and a black fill for the body, it's quite simple to do.

Draw some line around each fly using the Pencil tool ( N ) to give some movement to them.

Finally, again using the Pencil tool ( N ) draw circles and vertical sinuous lines to give impression of smell and movement to the flies.

Step 10

The beard can be made by many ways, I prefer to draw a shape using the Pencil tool ( N ), then duplicate it usingSelection tool ( V ) + alt

, reflecting it vertically. Access the Pathfinder panel and choose the shape mode called Unite to make these two pieces one, use a light gray gradient to add some depth to it.

Draw some blood using the Pencil tool ( N ) with a red gradient fill, duplicate the beard shape, bring it to front and make a clipping mask with the blood shape (ctlr + 7 / command + 7 ). After, draw some shapes to look like drops on the beard, you should get this result.

Step 11

There's not a short cut to do the Christmas hat. Being an illustrator I'd rather draw first the shapes using the Pencil tool ( N ) and then make the fill separated, but feel free to do any way you want it.

Now draw a circle using the Ellipse tool ( L ) and select the Crystallize tool panel and set width to 3.53 cm, height to 3.53 cm, angle to 0º, intensity to 50%, complexity to 3 and detail to 2. You should get a sharp ball.

Finally, using the Pen tool ( P ) make the contour along the lines you drew and fill it with a red gradient. The zombie Santa is done.

Step 12

To make it look more cool, I added once more a grunge texture, but you can add the texture you want on it

The final result

Here we tried to make this illustration the easiest way, but talking about creative process there are plenty ways to do it. Try to find the one that better fits your style. I hope you liked this tutorial.

Download the files

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL FILES USED FOR THIS TUTORIAL

About the author

My name is Marcos Torres, I'm Graphic Artist from Porto Alegre, Brasil. You can get to know more about me by acessing my Personal Website or by following me on Twitter: @marcos333. You can also see some of my last projects at my Flickr.

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Logo Design: Christmas

PauloGabriel — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:44:56 +0000

The Logo Design series is up and running! We're thinking ahead and we want to find new ways to sort these listings. Last week we had a post on CMYK logos... today it's all about Christmas logos!

As usual, we'll search for logos in these galleries: Logopond, Logo Faves, Logo Moose, Logo from Dreams, Logo Gala, WS Logos, The Logo Mix and Wolda. We hope you all enjoy our selection! Cheers. ;)

About the author

Hello, everyone! I'm Paulo Gabriel, designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil, born in 1984. I have worked as a webdesigner since 2006, but websites and blogs have been a hobby for me since 1999. Here in Abduzeedo, I try to bring only the hot stuff for you... and hope that all of you enjoy my posts! For more cool stuff, you may also follow me on Twitter.

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4th Birthday, Christmas Giveaways & AbductedDeals

nathanbweller — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:04:21 +0000

As you probably guessed from the title of this post, Abduzeedo is coming up on its 4th Birthday. Which begs the question, “What are you doing for your birthday Abduzeedo?!”

Good question. But before we talk about the future, lets remember the past.

The Founding

Back in 2006 Fabio Sasso, Co-Founder of Zee (a web design studio), went to lunch. While at lunch everything from the Zee offices was stolen. Yes, everything.

From that day on Fabio decided to post everything he was learning about design on a blog so that he would always have a copy “stored in the cloud” in-case something as tragic as the robbery ever happened again. Over time, those tutorials got pretty popular and early readers started asking questions like, “Hey Fabio, what inspires you?”

So Fabio started posting that stuff too. He even had to recruit a team of friends and family to help keep up with demand! Fast-forward 4 years, and now, the Abduzeedo Team posts inspiring stuff, strange stuff, fun stuff, educational stuff, all kinds of stuff! In fact, if you have asked for it, we have done our best to make it happen. With good reason too! We have found that throughout the years, if we respond to the needs of our readers, we are always met with good results.

Which is why for our birthday we would like to once again, collaborate with you our readers, to take Abduzeedo to a whole other level.

The Future

From the beginning Abduzeedo has always been about offering up knowledge, inspiration, and community - FOR FREE. And we have no intention of changing that. In fact, we want to make those offerings even better by re-thinking what we already do, and attempting to do it even better.

Which brings us to the first of several new beta experiments to come...

Introducing, Abducted Deals (beta)

This beta is designed to expand the reach and effectiveness of Abduzeedo Giveaways (and maybe once and for all, make all those annoying ads on our front page, a thing of the past). With all the hub-bub around group buying these days we got to wondering if we could provide awesome deals in the range of 50% to 100% off on stuff you want/need as a designer, in a win-win-win model that everyone from the reader, to us, to our partners enjoys.

That’s a tall order, but we think it is at least worth a try. I mean, how cool would it be if your new workspace was on us? Or you got a master creative suite from Adobe for 50% off? Or better yet, what if you gave us a wish-list and we tracked down partnerships that got you those things for free or at a heavily discounted price?

We think it sounds pretty sweet! But what do you think? This next week leading up to Christmas we will be running a series of Christmas Giveaways where we will test this model and invite you to give us feedback on how we can make it better, or if you even like it at all.

If you are interested in learning more and making sure you get a great new deal close to every day next week, head on up to the top right corner and spend a few seconds signing up for an Abduzeedo account. We will be following up with a more in-depth email tomorrow or the day after to give you a teaser of the Christmas Giveaways and explain how the new model will work. Any feedback you can give will be much appreciated and we will definitely take it into account for the next test we run :)

Looking forward to your thoughts!

- The Abduzeedo Team

P.S. Not to be too much of a tease, but signing up for an account now could be a big bonus for you in 2011 - wink, wink... ;) Also! Stay tuned this Saturday for our traditional Anniversary Poster Giveaway! This year's design was done by Rik Oostenbroek

About the author

Hi, my name is Nathan Weller. I'm a Columbus Ohio based artist, blogger and freelance consultant. I manage business development here at Abduzeedo. If you'd like to partner or advertise with us, email me at nathan[@]abduzeedo.com. I also write for some other cool blogs and post everything I write on twitter. If I'm not working then I'm either tinkering around with personal projects or posting cool stuff as I find it on my Tumblr. If you're passionate about art or even an artist yourself, I'd love to connect and learn about what you do :)

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Merry Christmas from Abduzeedo

amanda — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:55:52 +0000

I love winter! Cuddling up by the fire with loved ones, and maybe a good book and some eggnog too. Oh, and of course watching cute romantic Christmas movies! My favorite :) If you weren't able to make it home for Christmas this year and be with the ones you love, just remember to love the ones you're with. Hope you guys are all keeping warm this holiday season (or keeping cool if you're in Brazil and the rest of the southern hemisphere.)

Wherever you are, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas, from the Abduzeedo family to yours!

About the author

Amanda Macedo is a designer and blogger by passion and profession. Living and working out of her backpack, she can now be found in San Francisco, CA, biking, writing, dancing, and tweeting .

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Christmas Wallpaper

abduzeedo — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:52:16 +0000

It's Christmas time and nothing better than changing the desktop wallpaper to celebrate. I've been using the wallpaper I created for the last tutorial using Cinema 4D and Photoshop and now I want to share it with you in different resolutions.

If you have a nice Christmas wallpaper that you found or created, share it with us. Leave a comment with the link to the wallpaper.

I wish a Merry Christmas to everyone.

Desktop Version

iPhone Version

Resolutions:

About the author

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Abduzeedo's Christmas Wishlist

paul0v2 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:23:28 +0000

It's that time of year that everyone got their own wishes and expectations for this Christmas. We are no different, so each team member of abduzeedo wrote a 5 item list of our wishes for this Christmas. It's a super cool list full of crazy things—we ask that you complete the list sending out your 5 items to make this list even bigger.

Fabio Sasso

Fabiano Meneghetti

Paulo Gabriel

Paulo Canabarro

Alexis Papageorgiu

Gisele Muller

iPod Nano
Nike + iPod Sport Kit
Rechargeable Battery - 13-inch MacBook (black)
Nintendo Wii
Some wide-angle lens for my Canon EOS Rebel XSI

Amanda Macedo

What's your list?

About the author

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65+ Beautiful Christmas Icons

PauloGabriel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:04:50 +0000

When Christmas is near is that moment when you realize just how fast the year went thru. This has been a great year for us... and also for design. There were tons of great stuff all over the web, and to celebrate it, and Abduzeedo's birthday, nothing better than FREE stuff.

I went looking for some icons in DeviantART, Behance and Flickr and found some really beautiful christmas logos, which I share now with all of you! I hope you all enjoy these... Cheers! ;)

About the author

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Christmas Photography

PauloGabriel — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:52:58 +0000

I know that many people out there think the holidays are too depressing... but hey, it is actually about joy, love and all good things, that's for sure. And nothing better to capture these great moments as taking some christmas pictures!

And people, cheer up!! There's a whole new year about to begin. If you didn't get 2008 as you wanted, try your best to make 2009 an awesome year!! The Abduzeedo Team wishes you all Happy Holidays!! Cheers!! ;)

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Inspiration: Christmas Ads

paul0v2 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:47:00 +0000

We all know it's that time of year, when santa comes around and every brand puts him up on their ad to help sell more, here is a good selection I made of christmas ads to get the spirit going.