The background looks a little flat and the smudge around the head looks off. Try smudging in many different layers and playing with blend modes and layer modes to try and give that 3D look and add a little depth. Also its not going to be very often if at all that text is going to look good vertical. Over very good attempt being as smudging is new to you, thats the whole purpose of the training grounds is to try and get you guys to try new things and get you out of the same sigs every time. keep practicing different techniques and I know you will pick them up just fine!!