@RJKD looks good, it's just a lot of manually adjusting things. I'm sure there's a plugin to simplify the process, but I like being able to tweak the layers for color and size.

now i've done all 4 elements...earth, fire, water, and now air
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Just having a couple layers can easily double the file size. Also keep in mind that the xcf is saving every step you took, including erasing, backtracking, and layers you decided to not use. For a real test, try a new project, and save it early, then check it again later. In my experience, it's real...

hey @Tom here's the font, it's the same one I used on the environment mapping "test" as well:
http://www.fontspace.com/lj-design-studios/hellion

Another take on the environment mapped text, only this time i used a flat wu-tang symbol and made a gold e-map.I used alpha to selection and select border/filters-drop shadow several times to get the piping (ridges) for the bump mapping. I stacked it up and added some shadows and a very light hurl e...

now I need a "wind" sphere to complete the collection...already had water and fire here's earth
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that's a cool one too! It has that pop art feel.

same mapping technique, but I used white shading instead of gausian blur on the map layer to achieve a bubbley look on the font.
http://gimpchat.com/files/5302_gimp.png

more mapping...followed an environment mapped text tutorial, and had a lot of fun with it....definitely a different way to add dimension! here's the tut: http://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8423 here's what I did (of course I made my own emap and added some extras...that's part of the fun right...

similar to dripdrop, just tried to clean up some techniques....still not totally happy with the mapped text, seems like I was off my guides by a lil.
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