In this tutorial I will show you how to make the tattoo flags, if you want to know how to make the flowers, go here. Start with a trapezoidal shape like this, curved at the end. Make it with the pen tool for more control. Fill = Nul, and the stroke should be black (You’ll hide it in the end, anyway.) Remember, You can edit points with the white pointer tool after you’ve made the shape.

Add an end to the right side.

The other end is harder, because it twists into the second flag. I showed the rubber bands so you can see how I drew it with the pen tool. Remember to hold alt to change the rubber bands on a point you just made.

Add two lines at the bottom to continue the twist you made at the top.

Now make another trapezoidal shape for the new flag.

Edit the lines that went too far with the white pointer tool. Add an end for that flag similar to the first end-flag you made.

Select all the lines and with the fill tool, make it into a live paint group.

Fill the ends with a gradient. Change the direction and size with the gradient tool.

Fill the main flag pieces with a solid color, preferably the lighter one of your gradient. Also, make the stroke transparent.

Add whatever text you would like on the flags. Some tattoos have blank flags. It depends on what you want your final product to look like.

Add whatever tattoo designs you would like around or below the flag.

Finish your design by filling in your tattoo designs. I applied 75% opacity to mine so that you could still read the text below. Click the thumbnail to see the full size final.

Keywords: Adobe Illustrator, vector shapes, pen tool, tattoo flag, ribbons, ribbon, Ed Hardy inspired, ink, fashion.