Swords... attempt... gone wrong.
 

First GFX I have ever literally made... I can't shade worth a diddle dong do, but here it is. I think the outline was ok, then came the shading... and it went downhill.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...321/sword1.png

Note: I don't think I choose the best color choices either, originally, was going to make the gem an eye, but kinda got carried away, and made it a gem.

Edit: Original Outline
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ordoutline.png

What shading?

You need a direction of light.

Exactly what I'm saying... I'm completely stumped... I tried looking at the tutorials, but they didn't help much. I just don't understand which way the light would be hitting it, I tried to think of it, but then I thought of the different times of day, and the different angles of light... so I just gave up. Any suggestion, is their some kind of set way that you shade for the light?

Based on the size of your dagger you probably play Zodiac.

Look at some of the other swords on Zodiac to get a feel for shading styles and techniques.

Ignoring the blade, you'd break your wrist if you tried to wield that thing. With the blade counted in, you simple wouldn't be able to wield it.

Haha.

Don't do this:

http://www.natomic.com/hosted/marks/mpat/pillow.gif

Do this:

http://www.natomic.com/hosted/marks/mpat/shading1.gif

Actually, I just made it out of the blue... I play Zone.

And, I am saying, where is the light coming from, which direction? Is their a set direction?

It's up to you to decide where the light is coming from. A lot of people choose the top-left, it is pretty easy. It gets harder to make realistic when you have it directly to the sides or the top/bottom.

Hmm, there's a lot of room for improvement. Props for the "ding dong do" comment, i loved that.
As for your outlining...there could be a lot more flare in it, don't just stick to the shapes as you know them, especially in something as versatile as a sword :)
Shading, listen to those above, get a source of light and shade accordingly.