As for Twirl try this. Duplicate the layer, make oval selection, place it where you want and apply feather about 50px (depends on size of the selection), finally use twirl. Second, after you make you rectangles (each on separate layer) move them roughly one bellow other. Choose first layer with rectangle and then link all other rectangle layers, choose move tool and you`ll get align options. First click on "Distribute horizontal centres" and then on "Distribute vertical centres", voila thats it :)
If you`ll have troubles let me know :)
Here is quick experiment with twirl :)
Tihomir
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