This was one of the images that I created for a challenge in the PhotoShop section of the PixelParity graphics forum. Yes, I did say the PhotoShop section, but we are a really friendly bunch of people, you are not barred from having a go because you don't use PhotoShop. Use anything that you like.

Anyway, I played around with a few filters until I was happy with the image. The black border and the frame around the image were both done very easily, using pre-sets from the edge/frame gallery, just one of the many effect galleries that PhotoImpact has available at the click of a mouse button.