Background Element Design Process (Patreon)

I start by making a shape with the line tool in Flash then export that as a png to Photoshop
Then use the magic wand to select and fill with a base value
Add the 1st layer of paint texture and use overlay
Add 2nd layer of paint texture and overlay
Then make a color gradient layer, this one goes blue-green from top to bottom
Pick a base color value
Add some interesting shape textures; here I used a maple leaf brush since it's a bush
Then add the inner lines with a textured brush
Lastly the noise filter to help distinguish it from character elements
The bush to the left was just tinted blue 30% and flipped, and then add Mario!
Viola! and this is how I approach doing BG elements.