Set the background color to the brown you want, then Image-Canvas Size click the Relative check box, set the size for the border and hit OK.
ok thanks, however I tried that earlier and selected areas with the rectangular marquee tool, added drop shadow and glow and moved it, to give it that puzzle piece look and it didnt look right at all, and I was guessing it was because I didnt create a new background layer, but anyways thanks for your help, hopefully it will work
Edit: In the instructions of my project is specifically says "Create a new background layer using the color of your choice ( A medium brown shown in image (in the book))
"Resize the original layer so it appears to be framed by the background layer."
"Make a rectangular selection, create a layer from the selection. add a drop shadow or outer glow effect, then move the layer"
Those are a few of the instructions, I know how to do the last step I posted, but I am stuck on this background