Let’s start by creating a new document in Illustrator, mine is 500x500px.
Select the Rectangle Tool (M), create a big square in the middle of the canvas with a light brown colour, #CCA76C.
Select the whole square shape with the Direct Selection Tool (A), then select the Pen Tool and create two new anchor points, one on each side of the square shape.
Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to move both new anchor points inside.
Duplicate the shape we’ve been working on, apply a gradient to this shape going from grey to transparent with a 90° angle, change the opacity of this shape to 25%.
Next we’ll add a little texture to the bag, I’ve released a Free Vector Illustrator Texture Pack 1, download it and choose from the 6 textures, drag the one you like into the paper bag document.
We’re now going to create a Clipping Mask, so the texture just appears on the paper bag, duplicate the original shape we created place it in front of the vector texture layer, select both shapes, right click on them and select Make Clipping Mask. Change the opacity of the Clip Group to 25%.
Step 2 – Bottom Part
Duplicate the original shape we created, place the duplicated shape on top of all the other shapes. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the two top anchor points and delete them.
Apply a new gradient on this shape with two light brown colours and a -90° angle. duplicate this shape and apply an other gradient on the new one going from black to transparent, with a -90° angle, change the opacity of this shape to 5%.
Step 3 – Top Part and Shadow
Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle on top of the main shape, this time with a lighter colour, #E3CE92. Use the Direct Selection Tool to move the two top anchor point inside.
Create an other rectangle, this time in a dark brown colour, #A98767, on top of the shape we just created but with less width. place those two shapes layers behind the main shape layers.
Let’s now create some shadow under this paper bag icon. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and create an thin oval shape under the main shape. Apply a 35px radius Gaussian Blur on this oval shape, Effect – Blur – Gaussian Blur.
Step 4 – Holes
Before creating the string handle, we’ll create the holes. Use the Ellipse Tool to create two small circle with a light brown colour, #F2D48D. create two smaller circles in black in the centre of those light brown circles.
Let’s add a small shadow that with be behind the string handle, use the Pen Tool (P) to create a half circle shape on the bottom part of the small black circles. add a 3px black stroke to this shape. Next apply a 5px radius Gaussian Blur and change the opacity to 50%, I’ve used pink for the stroke for the purpose of the tutorial but the colour should be black.
Step 5 – String Handles
Now the back is nearly done, we’ll create the handle of the side of the bag, select the Pen Tool (P) and create a half circle shape going from one hole to the other, apply a 8px black stroke to this shape.
Duplicate this shape, Expand it, Object – Expand and apply a Black to Transparent Radial Gradient on it.
Duplicate the original black handle shape we created at the beginning of the step, place the duplicated shape under the two handle shape we created. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the middle anchor point and pull it down. this will be the handle shadow. Apply a 15px radius Gaussian Blur on this shape.
You can add any colour of texture you like on this paper bag, I’ve added some pink and black on mine with a pattern with my logo. I hope you enjoyed this Tutorial, feel free to share this post or leave a comment and share you creations.