I started with an image of an explosion: http://jooyeol.files.wordpress.com/2006 ... losion.jpg
then created an array of tiles clones of random star shapes over it. I randomized the overlap and rotation as well. Tile clones ends up ordering the clones in a column/row fashion, but running the restack extension (radial inward) gave me this:

which ended up looking rather nice, so I figured I share it here.
EDIT: here is the link to the image as the forum cuts it off...
http://www.maj.com/gallery/ffaat/Stuff/restack_sample.png
-Rob A>