Picture This

Getting the right picture for a pendant or pair of earrings can sometimes be frustrating. In order to get started, I open several pictures for ideas in Photoshop. Then I create a new file for my own image. But a lot of times, I just don't know how to get the effects I want.
  

There are a bunch of tutorial websites for Photoshop, as well as websites that offer free brushes. I have been doing this for years and I still find something new.

  

Check out http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/photoshop/1 or http://mediadesigner.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=19756.

  

Into any search engine you can type "tutorial photoshop" or "photoshop hair". Just replace the word "hair" with the thing you are trying to create.

  

Here's a great tutorial showing how to change Tom Cruise into an avatar. http://www.photoshoplady.com/tutorial/awesome-avatar-transformation-using-photoshop/2661. That particular one offers a free pair of ears.

  

Between the idea pictures and the Photoshop tutorials, after a while I can usually get the results I am after.