not an icon, but...

Hi, i hope this isn't too much of a pain...i feel like an idiot, lol.

i made something awhile ago and now i want to use the same sort of effect on something i'm working on now...but i can't figure out how i did it!! i know you guys must get this kind of post all the time, and i'm sorry, but i'm completely at a loss here..help?






if someone can help me figure out what i did, that would be awesome. the part i'm most interested in is what's making it so soft and painting-like.