No, you seem to have understood me very well! The thing is, I have used Photoshop, but I'm not a professional with Photoshop and with some parts of the program it can be very confusing and hard to understand!  I'll try to be a little more precise! 

When I open Photoshop Cs5, I click on "open" in the File menu to bring in my image into the work area.  Once I do that, it appears in the layers palette.  I then go to File and click "open" again to bring in my texture (to blend with my image).  The texture jumps right on top of my image in the layers palette and it ALSO jumps on top of my first layer in the work area. (I have made sure to "unlock" my layer in the layers palette.)  In the tutorials, when they open their second layer it comes in as separate from the first layer in their work area.  So, therefore, I have been unable to follow along with the tutorials. 

*Is the second layer (the texture) supposed to lay on top of the first layer in the work area??*  It certainly doesn't by what they show in the tutorials on Photoshop Cs5! They show it coming in as separate from the first layer in the work area.

When you say "Select all Ctr/Cmd a" what exactly do you mean??  Sorry! Like I said, I'm not completely amateur, but I'm no professional either!    And compared with those who have used Photoshop for a very long time, yes, I'm probably a dumby!  

I think I have an idea of what you mean and I'm going to try it. 

Thank you so much for your time and help!  I can certainly use all the help I can get! With layering anyway. 

Thank you all for your help! What you have said has enlightened me a lot! Still having some difficulty though! Mr Cox; I did go to Preferences and turned off tabbed documents. After that, when I opened up my second layer (texture) it did come in as separate from my first layer (image) in the work area.  I dragged the second layer over the top of the first layer but I still can't seem to figure out how to blend them.....  When I try to use the opacity a transparency just keeps showing up....  I think what I am needing to do is get both these layers showing as separate in the layers palette...  And I haven't a clue as to how to do that!  I've been sitting here trying all sorts of things but nothing works.  I have clicked on "Blending Options" but nothing there works. 

I have noticed one interesting thing though and that is when I click and drag my texture over the image in the work area and begin placing it there, it does show blending.  But once I let go, the blending disappears.  If you could lead me step by step (run me through) on blending them once laying the second layer on top of the first in my work area, I'd appreciate it much!  I have the idea that it just takes certain simple steps, and being a novice like I am, of course I'm ignorant of these simple steps. 

Trevor; Yes, that sounds like a great idea, wish I had thought of that! I understand exactly what you're saying.   I am definitely going to try that.  Just hope it works with trying to blend once I place the texture over my image! 

Noel; Ok, I see what you are saying; I will remember that! 

THANKS everybody and I will probably be back in touch!