Style Not Substance

The results of Challenge #16: "Ring in the Changes" are:
( results )
Thank you, everyone!

I've also revealed the entries in the challenge entry post.

Now, discuss!
And please, please tell us how you did it!

We're baaaack! And in celebration of the New Year, this challenge #16 is called "Ring in the Changes". For this challenge, each icon must use colour gradients, that is, gradually changing from one shade to another. Using the gradient as the background with a person in the foreground is not enough; the gradient has to be more important than that. Gradient-as-background would be fine with things like text or a silhuette in the foreground, because the background gets more attention with visuals like that.
( more and rules and dates )
In short:
Due 18th of January, post entries here, don't show them elsewhere.

If you know any good tutorials for this challenge, please post a link.

And please pimp this far and wide!