Open your photo-editing software. Click on "File," "New," and "Blank File." Select the size for your finished paper. Typical sizes include standard paper size (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches) or scrapbook size (12 inches by 12 inches).
Click on the foreground color box and select the color of your choice. Click OK. Select the Paint Bucket Tool and click anywhere on the blank page to fill it with color.
Set the foreground color to a coordinating color. Select the brush tool. From the drop-down menu of brushes, select a brush with some texture. Click on your page, moving your mouse so the brush tool paints across the page. Add brush strokes to the background to create a design or pattern. Experiment with different brushes and colors until you get a design you like. You also can adjust the brush settings, such as brush size and opacity, to get different effects. The more you experiment with settings, the more you will learn how to get the results you desire.
Open a texture overlay graphic (see Resources) while still keeping your painted page open. In the menu, click on "Layer/Duplicate Layer." Under "Destination," select your original document. Click OK. The overlay will now appear in a layer over your painted page.
Select the texture overlay layer in the Layers palette of your original document. In the drop-down menu at the top of the layers palette, select a blending mode such as multiply, color burn or soft light. Experiment with various modes until you see a result you like.
Save your new page background and print, if desired.