As I said, I use Dundjinni to make most of my maps. I use my camera and Photoshop to make most of the objects that I make. I was lucky enough to find an older copy of Photoshop at a yard sale cheap. The Gimp is very similar to Photoshop, is free, and can do most anything you want. There are a lot of tutorials on this forum to help you learn how to use it. GamerPrinter makes Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9 sound like it would be worth at least checking their website. He does make great maps. Fractal Mapper 8 and CC3 are specifically made for mapping, but I have never used either. Dundjinni is very easy to get started mapping, but the lack of support and questionable future make it hard to recommend it. If you can even find it.

Good Luck