[Adam]

there's a help/tutoring forum now, you should try posting something there.

 

[Kaneanite]

For backgrounds just experiment with filters and brushes. Thats all I did when I first got Photoshop. Just start with something simple like a cloud render, then change the colors (ctrl-u, click colorize), and then fool with the filters like the distortions and such.
Example: -Open a new document.
-Go to Filter>Render>Clouds.
-Hit ctrl-U and check colorize. Then make it any color.
-Go to Filter>Distortion>Glass.
-Mess with the options till you get something you like.
And you're done.

You should get decent-yet-simple looking backgrounds from fooling around like that.

 

[Guitar Pl4yer]

It wouldn't be hard to make that BG. All it is is some wave, liquify, etc. Maybe a chromize. And that banner is perhaps presentable, but nothing special.

 

[kdog]

kick ass banner but the last torrie i wouldve put as the very top layer

 

[Guest]

Oops. I fucked up.

 

[OlympicZero]

Have it. It sucks.

Just a bunch of cheap shit you can already do, like hard-edged bevels and shit.

 

[Shaman]

Very nice