Messy Creativity

Biker Buddy's Second Wife, BHGG (Better Homes and Gardens Girl) was a creative decorator and kept a gorgeous house. Unfortunately, my creativity tends to make terrible messes instead.

I downloaded this picture to my new Mac and fiddled with it on Aperature, but I don't have the hang of either the mac or Aperature, and I had to email it to myself on Blue in order to post it. I would have liked more shadows in the block so the pattern was visible, but I am clueless as to how to work the program at this point. And I have already wasted WAY too much time!