I have just been messing around on gimp ( i understand the fact i will need to do more tuts ) I have just been making random things let me know what your thoughts are
im a gimp user too and man you make crazy backgrounds I cant make. I like your illusions banner very creative. fonts are awsome. better then mine and im in the design team.
try making signatures with renders/images. it helps I think it helps make better signatures overall.but for starters it looks like you mastered your strengths in sigs.
the video of the week banner is very very good, it plain but it catches the eye and its easy to see the text, i like it. in your signture try using renders ( http://planetrenders.net ) and for signatures like the first one, you can make the render blend in to the background by added a gradient map. so try fooling around with that, i think you'll like it. overall your not to bad for a beginer. keep it up!