At the last stage the file gets flattened for color and value adjustments. Using levels, variations, and color layers can put a little more punch into the illustration. But thats still not the final stage. Variations will sometimes over saturate and color will dull the image. After the operations, color pick these new hues and paint with them a little to blend. Almost every operation in PS can use a little help.
In my animal Folklore/Mythology search I found that toads are linked to fertility ( I think I knew that?). Taking a break from the patterns but staying to topic, I wanted to do an illustration jumping off from the Valentines Day direction and start to get into landscape painting in PS. I will be dropping this toad into that composition along with other narrative elements.