...and this time I got so busy explaining my 'new method' I left out something else.... please bear with me...will get better at this, i promise :-)

New Method, Revised:

open original RGB image (flattened)
in channels palette, duplicate the red channel
in this duplicate.... stylize>find edges
then edit>fade find edges--difference mode 100% opacity
still in the duplicate....Select>Select All, then Edit>Copy, then deselect
choose the RGB channel, then go back to the layers palette
make a new blank layer above the background
Edit>Paste, then make this layer luminosity mode, 77% opacity
Use magic wand to select black background areas of this layer and delete
choose background, make it a layer, then vivid light mode, 53% opacity
make a new blank layer, place it at the bottom
make white the foreground color and light blue the background color
then Filter>Render>Clouds (mayne apply this filter a couple times)
flatten image
add matting

Sharon
http://www.pbase.com/photofixer