Please note; this is just to give you ideas, not to copy/model off.

1. I'm going to use GD of Big Bang for this icon tutorial .
before:
after:

2. Sharpen the image by going to filter -> sharpen -> sharpen then duplicate that layer twice. afterwards set the blending mode of the second layer to 40-50% Screen. set the blending mode of the top most layer to 95-100% Soft Light. Then go to Layer > Merge Visible.


3. Go to Image -> Adjustment -> Curves and apply these settings:


4. Duplicate the background layer then take this gradient I made {credit me if you take}; put the gradiet over the two layers . set the blending mode to 100% Ligthen.
gradiet:




5.Then move the duplicate layer of the background on top of the gradiet, set the blending mode to 100% Overlay.



6. Now you should have something like this:



7. Select this soft, round brush.


8. Make a new layer and apply the brush with color #8dca7a until you get something like this:


9. Change the blending mode of the layer with the brush to 100% Overlay.


10. Duplicate the background copy you made, but set the blending mode to 75% Overlay, then move it on top of the brush layer.


11. Go to Image > Adjustment > Selective Color and apply these settings:


12. Go to Layer > Merge Visible & now you have this:


13. Create a new layer and use the same brush you used in step 8 but this time make it #555c61. Apply it on the top left & right corners + the botton right corner of the image. {something like this, it looks ew now.. yes i know.}


14. Change the blending mode of the layer to 50% Overlay & Duplicate the layer.


15. Go to Layer -> Merge Visible .

16. Add some brushes+text& you're done!


MEMEBER TO CREDIT ME(x i spent two hours on this