Creating New Style Images

1) Can anyone tell me if there are any tutorials on the internet that'll teach me how to create images like the ones on www.boxedart.com & other sites

For Example:

http://www.boxedart.com/phpshop/images/head1.gif

http://www.boxedart.com/phpshop/images/head6.gif

http://www.stockedphotos.com/images/categories.gif

http://www.myoffers.co.uk/prizedraw.asp?pd=2144&pn=0&AreaID=53

Any graphics package.

2) I really like the look of 'win xp' style images....anyone know of a website where it has loads of these?

Thanks.