Got a few projects, but stuck due to my lack of design knowledge.

I have recently purchased a few domains that relate to things I have an interest in, but it seems I keep letting things go to waste because I am unable to design decent pages. This is a major issue that is keeping me at a standstill, preventing me from getting started. My problem is that I get frustrated trying to find a reliable designer at an affordable price or designing them myself and end up letting them sit.

Here is a list of my current projects:

Site #1:
I have a domain I have previously posted about needing help for. This is a graphic design service site for e-covers, including designs such as CDs, DVDs, magazine, e-books, hardcovers, gift cards, etc.

Requires:
- PayPal integration
- A way for customers to add multiple designs to their order via holding them in a cart.
- A blog (I initially tried to make the whole site in wordpress, but I feel a traditional site would be more secure but I wouldn't be opposed to using wordpress if secured properly.)
- An area listing products/designs by category (books, binders, CD, etc)
- Upon clicking a category and then clicking the thumbnail, a larger preview pic appears.
- Standard pages (about, contact, etc)
- A portfolio page, which may be considered another standard page for this sort of site.
- All other common sense stuff
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Site #2:

A job board for writers, mainly focused toward copywriting (the domain reflects this).

Requires:
Think oDesk sort of format, but not as complicated. A user visits the page and is greeted with two apparent options: look for work and hire writers. Having other elements such as space for advertisement, section for links, etc is desired as well. I don't want just those two options showing. The site would appear just as any other site of its kind.

Additional:
- A way to prevent spam
- It would be fantastic to have an option to switch on payment requirements. In other words, a user looking to hire clicks through and is greeted with a form to fill out all relevant information and upon clicking next, is greeted by a payment form to submit. If this could be toggled on the backend of things, that would be great. Trying to charge right away with no previous customers won't obviously work.
- I'm sure there is more here, but that's it at the moment.
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Site #3:

A review site for plugins on various formats (mainly wordpress, iphone, photoshop, etc).

As far as I'm concerned, wordpress should be fine here. I have plans to integrate a specific, popular review plugin. I should be able to do this on my own, but I'm having a hard time figuring out a theme to use. I will have to see how this goes, but I will probably need some sort of suggestion or help for a theme that will jive well for a review type of site.
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Overall needs: For each, I may need custom designs for logos, headers, etc.

If you respond, please at least have a decent history here on the forums. I don't plan to work with someone that appears to have just made an account just to reply. If you have any history on freelancing sites and perhaps a portfolio, that would be even better.

If I am able to get things off the ground and find someone that is affordable and reliable, I will definitely have more projects in the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Regards,

Mike