1. Select the rectangle tool and draw a horizontal rectangle, make sure you have a bold black stroke around that.

2. Add a linear gradient to the rectangle, make sure the angle is set at 0 and that the white is on the outside while the gray is in the middle.

3.  Using the pen tool, draw a triangle as shown above, this will serve as the bottom of your envelope. Be sure to have the same stroke as the previous rectangle you drew.

4. Using a gray and white gradient, add a linear gradient to the triangle, make sure that the gray slider is to the right and the angle is at -90.

5. Draw a rounded square with the same stroke as the previous objects, this will be the start of the top of your envelope.

6. With your rounded square selected, double click on the rotate tool and set the angle at 45.

7. After your shape has been rotated, click on the top ruler of the window and drag down to pull a guide line.

8. Select the guideline and the shape. Use the divide selection on the pathfinder tool to cut the shape.

9. Delete the top portion to leave only the above image.

10. Add a gradient fill by selecting the gradient tool from the palette. Make sure you’re using a light gray and white for you gradient. Set the type to linear and the angle to -90. The light gray color should be place to the right of the slider.

11. Set the two triangles above the rectangle to form the envelope.

12. Copy the top shape on the envelope and add a gradient fill with these settings: Type: Linear, Angle: -90, Transparency: Multiply and Opacity to 100%. Leave the dark gray color to the right of the slider, just like we did on the previous steps.

13. Select the top envelope flap and bring to front.

14. Move the shape from step 12 to sit just below the top flap, this will serve as the shadow for the top flap. Also put a bolder stroke on the main rectangle.

15. Using the pen tool draw a shape that will add and accent the top envelope flap.  Add a gradient with the following settings for the gradient and the transparency: Type: Linear, Angle: -90,Transparency: Multiply and Opacity 100%.

16. This is how your enevelope should turn out. We added a few extra touches to make it pop, which we’ll cover in a future tutorial.

1. Select the Rectangle tool and draw two identically sized vertical rectangles in two complimenting colors, we chose green and orange.

2. Duplicate the rectangles, we duplicated the set 5 more times, though it’s up to you on how many times you want to duplicate them.

3. Select all the rectangles and in the brushes window, select New Pattern Brush and click OK.

4. Leave the settings at the default, and click OK.

5. Your new pattern will appear in the brushes window.

6. Using the circle tool, draw a circle and apply the brush you just created.

7. Your circle should come out looking like the above circle.

8. You can then use the polar stripes as a background for a neat effect.

1. Choose a font and color you like and type out your desired word.

2. Right click and create an outline of the text.

3.  Sheer text with the sheer tool if desired, we made ours look like the image below.

4. Add a gradient to your text, we used a black and white gradient with a 90 degree angle.

5. Make a duplicate of the text (while the text is selected an easy way to do this is to hold down alt then click and drag) and select the pen tool and draw a curved line over the duplicated text.

6. Select the text and curve and choose the DIVIDE option in the pathfinder, delete everything that was on the top portion of the curved line.

7. With both the partial text and original text selected, use the align tool and select VERTICAL ALIGN BOTTOM.

8. Make any additional adjustments to the gradients if required.

9. Add a stroke to the original text.

The finished product should have a glossy look such as above.