GIMP COLORING//FOLDERS

I see many tutorials saying create a new-
1) channel mixer
2) color balance
3) hue/saturation
4) curves
5) brightness/contrast
-layer.
But I'm not sure if this means duplicate the base & change the layer to what they said, or what.

Plus, I was curious how you start experimenting...is their some basics ya'll could start me off with.  For example, some tutorials, based on starting with whatever the major color in the base icon is.

I was also trying to find a good way to organize all my pictures in my "My Pictures' folder.  I have for example...

These are my folders...I don't know if anyone actually wants to read them, but if you have any suggestions of naming folders...like getting icons from online..mostly i want to rename all the [teh net pics]

GiMP\
GiMP\ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US\
GiMP\ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US\100x100\
GiMP\ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US\You know you want to icon this\
GiMP\ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\BACKGROUNDs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\ICONS\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\MY BACKGROUNDs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\MY ICONS\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\NEW COMP\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\OLD COMP\BACKGROUNDs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\OLD COMP\ICONs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\OLD COMP\MY BACKGROUNDs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\OLD COMP\MY ICONs\
GiMP\GiMP LUFF [i did this,nukka]\OLD COMP\
GiMP\Tutorials\
GiMP\Tutorials\Pictures Need For Tut\
Teh Netz\
Teh Netz\BANNERS OR BACKGROUNDS\
Teh Netz\BANNERS OR BACKGROUNDS\LYTS\
Teh Netz\DA STAMPS\
Teh Netz\Funnies!!!\
Teh Netz\Funnies!!!\Cyanide && Happiness\
Teh Netz\Funnies!!!\icanhascheezburger\
Teh Netz\Funnies!!!\Posters\
Teh Netz\Funnies!!!\Toothpastefordinner\
Teh Netz\Icon\
Teh Netz\Nursery Ideas\
Teh Netz\PHOTOSHOP THIS\
Teh Netz\Picture of Myself Ideas\
Teh Netz\Picture of Myself Ideas\Picture_Dani\
Teh Netz\Quotes\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Drinking\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Emo\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Enemies\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Friendship\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Funny\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Inspiration\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Just Me\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Love; a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person\
Teh Netz\Quotes\Sci Fy Lullaby\
Teh Netz\Small_GIMP\
Teh Netz\SONOGRAMS OF MY HAYLIE BROOKE\



I want to find a way to organize my icons...those others made and the ones I made. I have organized all the tutorials on my livejournal using...
B&W Image
B&W Resized Duplicates
B&W Texture
B&W Gradient
Border Texture
Colored BG
Colored Gradient
Colored Image
Colored Resized Duplicates
Colored Texture
Coloring-B&W
Coloring-Enhancement
Cropping
Color Layers
Smaller Duplicate
...so I think I will organize the icons in a similar manner.


I know this is a lot of information, I just found myself with a lot of free time.