General Themeing with photoshop

[aPple nErd]

so i've recently downloaded photoshop and played with it a little. I'd like to start makeing icons but i want to make skeuomorphic icons instead of flat ones. Where can i find resources to use in icons like silhouettes and textures and things? Also how can i create a custom shape for icons then just start from there for each icon or would it be easier to use a mask?

 

[Sital]

Photoshop contains some textures and filters out of the box, but if you google you will quickly find more resources that you can import. As for the icons, I would suggest making square icons, that way you can apply any mask you want later without worrying about the edges. I would also suggest you make the icons big, I make mine 1024x1024 so I can use them on my Mac (obviously, I downsize them for my phone).