New member questions on web page design

Hi everyone. Having only registered with this site yesterday, this is my first post, so I hope that someone can give me a bit of advice, or at least point me toward where I should look.
I already know just a little about css and html4, and am trying to learn about xhtml as well. I know about enough to maintain my existing website, add audio files, images, make minor alterations etc. Incidentally, the site I already have is built using a pretty basic 'drag and drop' system provided by the sites host. This is generally O.K, but sometimes won't allow me enough flexibility.
What I would really like to do is build a brand new website from scratch, using xhtml and css, but putting all the little bits of knowledge that I have together, in order to build a complete site is quite a challenge.
I would like to create pages for my new site that look something similar to this page: http://www.therapynet.co.uk/hypnotherapy.php but am not sure how to begin, as far as the basic design is concerned.
In order to design a layout similar to the page mentioned, should I use a program such as paintshop pro to create the basic design?
Presumably the page I have given as an example is built in layers using the z index method? Is this right?
This is only just a guess, but would I begin by creating a tiled background, then creating the central section as a second layer, and so on?
How would I achieve the pleasant rounded corners and feathered edges/shadows etc? Would all of this be done in PSP as one large graphic, or as small portions which are fitted together later?
I expect that you'll probably tell me to do everything in Dreamweaver and Fireworks, which are undoubtedly fine pieces of software, but which are taking me forever to learn.

My other question is this. When looking in books about css, I find lists of stylesheet properties, but these lists don't appear to be comprehensive (even when the list is supposed to be).
I have noticed css properties popping up in actual website source code that do not appear to be shown in any list I've seen so far - examples would be WRAPPER & MASTHEAD. Does the writer of a sites css sometimes define their own properties, and if so, how would a browser recognise what they are supposed to mean?

I'm sure that there are a zillion other questions I'd like to ask, but for now, I think that's probably enough.

Hope you're able to interpret my ramblings and make some sense of what I'm 'trying' to say!

Any feedback gratefully received.

Hey Howey:
Welcome! To start you off, yes you will need a graphics program such as paint shop to make the graphics you saw on that site.
I start with a background usually. You make that in paint shop as well. It can be a solid color, photo, texture, or gradient, etc. If it's a color it can be a small graphic that repeats.
CSS /XHTML can be done in Dreamweaver but you can do it in notepad or other programs. Others will make suggestions.
I've used Dreamweaver for years and have just started learning css and it works fine in code view. So if you have Dreamweaver, flip to CODE VIEW and start there.
The next thing to design in PSP is your header/footer/other graphics. To learn how to do that, post in the "graphics" section of this forum.

For CSS go to the sticky at the top of the CSS forum for links on where to start.
Start with a background. Once that is done, move to something a little more complicated. Insert your header. Once that is done, you'll need your navigation...etc.
The site you posted as an example is not "that" difficult. It might be a good way to start.
From my very limited knowledge of CSS, I've found that I like to look at books. I hate scanning all over the net and bouncing back and forth. There are several excellent books out there. I'm having luck with CSS The Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland.

I know I didn't answer all your questions, but hope it help a little.

Just realized this was the "graphics forum". Oops...
This is the place to learn how to make graphics. There are great tutorials online if you want to search google!

Thanks for the info. There are one or two (in reality, probably one or two hundred) questions I'd like to ask in reponse to your comments.

As I said before, I have learnt a little bit about html, css, xhtml etc. but only what would probably seem like a drop in the ocean to the many knowledgable members of this web forum. There are still an enormous amount of things that don't make any sense to me at all, yet I'm pretty sure that many of these things might instantly become clearer should someone, such as yourself, for instance, be able to explain in very basic terms.

Let's take, for example, that sample webpage that I mentioned before: http://www.therapynet.co.uk/hypnotherapy.php
The main background, presumably known as the 'wrapper' is of a blue colour. Would I make this by first creating a single tile, let's say 200px by 200px, which is then repeated over the entire area, or, should I create an entire area of blue perhaps 600px by 800px. I am assuming that the correct way is the former, as the latter would be of a very large filesize and take too long to load? Honestly, I am only guessing at this. What many of you reading this message would probably consider common knowledge, is all still rather cloudy to me, as yet.

Once the background, or 'wrapper', is complete, then comes the central, top-to-bottom area. White background, with header, footer and R/H sidebar (column down the L/H side that is a kind of grey/white colour. Would I create all of this sidebar as one entire block, or is it, as I believe it to be, built in seperate sections which are then assembled together in the correct order as the page loads?

If built in seperate pieces, then I would use a program such as PSP to create each individual section, yes?

Presumably, careful positioning of the individual sections, some overlaying/overlapping others, is how the page would then take shape?

Let's go back to that sample web page again: http://www.therapynet.co.uk/hypnotherapy.php Surrounding the main central section there is a kind of darker blue shadow. Would this also be created in seperate portions, such as a left, top, right, bottom strip, or bar, that is then positioned to give the effect of being attached to the actual edge of the main central area? Thing is, I think that if I can get my head around how a page such as this is designed and assembled, then perhaps the css code used to create it will start to make more sense to me.

Guess that's enough for now. If anyone reading this can spare a few minutes, and has enough patience to explain, then I'd really appreciate it.

Look forward to any comments.