Another tool I forgot to mention is paint.net. Very nice freeware to be used in a pinch. I hire 39cent to do my graphic design work.

At one point in 1997 when cd burners were a novelty I started a business to sell CDs to mix tape djs. I would convert their mixtaped to cd and design a jewel case. It was usually easy, find a
carribean model with bikini and add text to the image like "dj northstar volume 2". At this time psp was my fave.