help with design programs

[DisneyTasha]

I am driving myself crazy trying to figure out programs. I am trying to do some simple designs for a friend, nothing near as fancy as what you wonderful DISigners do. But I have tried to figure out both GIMP and Paint, and can't figure out how to make either do what I'm wanting.

All I'm wanting is a simple plain one-color background, simple border, (either of those can be in the program, they don't have to be Disney) one or two clip arts stuck on there, and some text. That's it. I can't even figure out how to make it the right size for whatever I'm wanting to do, as they are all in pixels, and I'm needing inches. Argh!

Is there some simple program out there when I can just layer these simple things onto each other and tell it what size in inches I want it to be and be done? I had a great program for my MacBook that was for virtual scrapbooking, but my poor MB is now obsolete, and I can't hardly get it to load up. I don't even remember the name of the program, but I do remember that it was very expensive, and I had to order it and wait for it. Not sure how much of that was because it was for Mac instead of Windows, though.

Anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to pay an arm and a leg and I don't want to spend two years trying to figure out a new program for something so simple. I just want to be able to do something simple for my friends when they are taking their kids to Disney without having to ask you nice folks for something every time. It has to be easier than I'm making it!

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I am not sure if this will help or not but when I first started designing, I took advantage of free trials. I wanted to be able to first try out the software before buying them. At the time (which was almost 10 years ago - whew!) I tried out Photo Impact and Photoshop Elements. They both had advantages to them but ultimately I liked Photoshop Elements the best and chose it.

If you visit the company webpages, you might be able to get a free 30 day trial and then only buy it later if you like it. Just a suggestion that might work for you as well.

 

[DisneyTasha]

Thank you, that's a great idea. I hadn't thought of that.

The one that I tried to use was new to me, called GIMP, and it's free. It comes highly recommended, but it's not easily understandable for someone who doesn't know much beyond point and click, drag and drop.