In this tutorial we’ll go through a fun and simple process to create a set of flat Halloween icons, using simple geometric shapes, the Shape Builder Tool, and various Warp effects to modify and transform the elements.
If you want to check out the source file and see how the icons are made, you can always get the full set of Flat Halloween Icons at Envato Elements. As a bonus, you’ll get additional icons in this expanded collection for your personal or commercial use!
1. How to Make a Magic Cauldron Icon
Step 1
Start by making a 120 x 30 px dark-purple oval using the Ellipse Tool (L). Create a smaller 100 x 17 px oval on top of it and fill it with orange.
Step 2
Now let’s make the body of the cauldron. Make a 140 x 140 px dark-purple circle. Select its side anchor points with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag them down a bit to make the bottom of the cauldron flatter.
Take the Eraser Tool (Shift-E), hold down Alt, and erase the top part of the circle, making it hidden beneath the top ellipses.
Step 3
Let’s add some details. Copy (Control-C) the body of the cauldron and Paste in Front (Control-F). Move the top copy to the left a bit and make the bottom copy darker.
Select both copies and take the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Hold down Alt and click the unwanted piece on the left to delete it.
Great! Now we have only a crescent shape left.
Step 4
Create another crescent shape using the same technique and make it smaller. Fill it with lighter purple to make a highlight on the surface of the cauldron.
Step 5
Let’s create a pair of legs. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to make a 9 x 20 px dark-purple oval. Take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and move its side anchor points up to make the shape more pointed.
Step 6
Duplicate the leg to the opposite side of the cauldron.
Step 7
Now we’ll make a simple bubble. Create an orange circle, Copy it, and Paste in Front (Control-C > Control-F). Move the top copy down a bit and fill the circle behind it with lighter orange color.
Finally, use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) while holding Alt to delete the unwanted piece at the bottom.
Finish off the bubble by adding a small light-orange circle for the highlight.
Step 8
Now we can Group (Control-G) all the pieces of the bubble and speckle the bubbles on top of the orange liquid in the cauldron. Change their size and position to make it look more natural.
Step 9
And that’s it for our magic cauldron! Let’s move on to the next icon.
2. How to Design a Cartoon Coffin Icon
Step 1
Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and start with a 55 x 155 px dark-purple rectangle. Go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points to add a point in the middle of each side. We will need only the left and the right one.
Step 2
Select the left anchor point with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and hit the Enter key to open the Move options window.
Set the Horizontal Position value to -15 px and Vertical to 0 px.
Click OK to move the point 15 px to the left.
Step 3
Now let’s move the other point in the opposite direction. This time set the Horizontal value to 15 px,Vertical value to 0 px.
Step 4
Let’s make the bottom edge of the coffin narrower. Select its bottom left anchor point with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and open the Move window. Set the Horizontal value to 10 px, Vertical to 0 px.
Do the same for the opposite side, but set the Horizontal value to -10 px.
Step 5
Keeping the shape selected, go to Object > Path > Offset Path and set the Offset value to -7 px.
Make the color of the top shape lighter.
Step 6
Duplicate (Control-C > Control-F) the top shape and set its Fill color to None.
Apply a bright orange Stroke and open the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke). Set the Weight of the line to 4 pt and Align Stroke to Inside.
Step 7
Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and make a 7 x 50 px orange shape. Add a 33 x 7 px rectangle on top of it to make a cross.
And there we have it! Our coffin icon is finished. Let’s move on!
3. How to Draw a Cute Ghost Icon
Step 1
Start by creating the body of our ghost from a 90 x 165 px light-blue rectangle.
Select its bottom left anchor point and use the Move function to move it 20 px to the left. The do the same for the bottom right anchor point and move it in the opposite direction, making the bottom edge wider.
Step 2
Now select both top anchor points and make the top of the body rounded with the Live Corners feature by dragging the circle markers down. You can also adjust the radius manually by setting the Corners value to 50 px in the control panel on top.
Step 3
Let’s make the bottom part wavy. Grab the Scissors Tool (C) and click the bottom left and right anchor points to split the shape. Now the horizontal bottom line is separated from the rest of the body.
Step 4
Keeping the line selected, go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag.
Set the following Options:
- Size to 6 px
- Absolute
- Ridges per Segment to 5
- Points to Smooth
And click OK.
Go to Object > Expand Appearance to apply the effect.
Step 5
Use the Lasso Tool (Q) to select the bottom left anchor point of the body together with the left side of the wave. Click the right mouse button and Join the points. Repeat the same for the opposite bottom points to unite the shape.
Step 6
Now we can Convert selected anchor points to smooth, using the Convert function in the control panel on top.
Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to move some anchor handles, making the shape more balanced and smooth.
Step 7
Let’s add details. Duplicate the shape and move the top copy down and to the right. Use the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) while holding down the Alt key to delete the unwanted piece. Use the remaining piece to make a highlight.
Create a subtle shadow at the bottom of the ghost, using the same technique.
Step 8
Now let’s add some facial features to our ghostly fellow. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to make a pair of 11 x 11 px dark-purple circles for the eyes.
Step 9
Add a larger ellipse for the mouth right in the center of the face. Take the Scissors Tool (C) and click both side anchor points to split the ellipse.
Delete its top half, leaving only the bottom arc to form a smile. Set the Weight to 3 pt and Cap to Round Cap in the Stroke panel.
Step 10
Finish the ghost by adding two orange ovals on the cheeks.
There we have it! Let’s make our last icon!
4. How to Create a Flat Vampire Icon
Step 1
Let’s use a character from another tutorial as a base for our scary Dracula. I choose a construction worker flat avatar to make this transformation. You can either create it following Part 1, Step 1 and onwards of this descriptive tutorial:
Or go ahead and get the full set of Flat Profession Avatars from Envato Elements or Graphic River.
Let’s right click on the icon, Release Clipping Mask, and delete the circle base and the shadow.
Step 2
Delete the clothes and some unneeded facial features. Select the bottom part of the neck using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and make it rounded with the help of the Live Corners function:
Step 3
Now let’s recolor the skin of our character to give him a pale vampiric look. Fill the elements of the head with pale-blue tints and make his eyes and eyebrows dark.
Step 4
Already looks scary enough! Let’s add a mouth. Make a 35 x 23 px circle and split it using the Scissors Tool (C).
Step 5
Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and make two 5 x 10 px white ovals for the fangs. Select the bottom points and Convert selected anchor points to corner from the control panel on top to make the fangs sharp.
Step 6
Add an orange oval for the tongue. Select all the elements of the mouth and take the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M). Hold down Alt and click the unneeded pieces to delete them.
Step 7
Let’s add a hairdo and a small stylish beard.
Duplicate the face shape. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and place two large ellipses so that they cover the face, making the ellipses overlap. The uncovered parts of the face will form the hair. Now we can delete the unwanted pieces using the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M) and fill the hair parts with dark color.
Step 8
We also need to change the shape of the ears. First of all, make the top of the ear squared either by dragging the markers of the Live Corners up or by setting the Corners value to 0 px in the control panel on top.
Then select the top left corner with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag it up, making the ear pointed.
Step 9
Let’s add a final touch to our vampire: a high collar. Take the Polygon Tool and single-click anywhere on the Artboard to open the options window. Set the Sides value to 3 and create a dark-purple triangle, rotating it upside down.
Keeping the shape selected, go to Effect > Warp > Arc and set the Horizontal Bend value to 20%. Click OK and Object > Expand Appearance to apply the effect.
Step 10
And there we have it! Our vampire icon is ready!
Boo! Have A Spooky Halloween!
Great work! Now we’re ready for Halloween with our set of creepily cute flat icons! I hope you’ve enjoyed following this tutorial and got inspired by its simple and fun techniques.
Don’t forget to check out the expanded set of Flat Halloween Icons that you can get at Envato Elements for your personal or commercial use.
