Tortured Pixels

I selected the water lily and a bit of the lily pad, copied it, pasted it and then threw away the background. Then I used the "Fractal Explorer Orbit Traps" filter on Pixel Bender to create the 5 points on the fractal and I chose 0 for the color alpha so it would have a transparent background. I added a layer behind the fractal and added the center of the water lily in the middle and a radial gradient. Then I added very tiny amounts of bevel and emboss + drop shadow layer style to the fractal layer. Then I added the 4 water lillies and the splatter frame.

Wish I could claim this workflow, but most of it is not mine. I got it from a fellow pixel bender.

Patti, for me, the PB process is a MB (Mind Bender ) and I love the result! Neat graphics feel. Thanks so much for sharing the steps.

Yes, that process is one of those that you have to do while you read it or it would never make sense! I do like the end result, though...looks very "kaleidoscope-ish". Beautiful colors in this - the frame works very nicely as well!

Patti, I had to re-read your work flow. Very cool! I like the subtle drop shadow. I might fix the stem on the one lily on the lower right (very minor and not really necessary). It has a nice artistic look. I really like the splattered frame. Nice work and thanks for sharing the step by step.

Patti, It does look like a Kaleidoscope. I like the frame edge. Thanks for sharing your technique.

Patti, this is an awesome application of the PB filter! I see the hints of the Mandelbrot set in your spiral of flowers. Great look and thanks for sharing your work flow. Lovely!

Nice image and application, Patti.

Could you put the workflow in English!

Nicely done. Like the colors and effect of this.

Very nice composition, Patti. Love your vision here. Excellent use of PB.

I appreciate all of the looks and comments.
Steve, Thanks, it is a MB for sure. Especially the fractal filter - too much math.
Julie, I agree about that kaleidoscope look. The fractal filter in PB looks more kaleidoscopic than the kaleidoscope filter to me.
Denise, Thanks, I know I should have fixed that stem...got lazy. Can't get anything past you. :O)
Michael, Thanks. I don't usually like frames, but this one needed something. I'm glad you liked it.
Kerry, Wow! You are a fractal master! I don't think there are many people that will recognize the Mandelbrot when they see it. Thanks.
Mark, LOL - How about Italian? Thanks.
Indranil, Thanks. PB is really new to me and a lot of fun.

I really like it! I didn't know you could do that with PB and I thought I'd tried all the filters! I like the edge effect too. How did you do it?

Thanks Judy. I've always been fascinated by fractals and when someone pointed out that there was a filter in PB that actually did fractals, I jumped on it. The edge effect was really, really simple. I just used a soft yellow spatter brush or the dry brush (can't remember now) at about 40% opacity and painted the edges. You probably already know this, but to paint in a straight line, just click at the spot you want to start (a corner in this case) and then Shift click where you want the line to end. I just did that for all four sides and put a couple of lines on each side.

Patti, this is way beyond my comprehension but I like the results

Thanks Cheryl. I don't understand any of it either.

Very lovely result, Patti! Love the colors and kaleidoscopic pattern. The frame is a nice touch.