Using Photoshop with Illustrator is like cookies and milk. As delicious as they are seperately - they’re even better when used together. Vandalay Design has a list of great tutorials using Illustrator and Photoshop to accomplish something extra-ordinary.
Noupe has a list of 14 styles of website backgrounds that are the current trend today. They back each style up with a couple of tutorials to help make your own versions.
As 1st Webdesigner points out hand drawn designs have had a hay-day in 2008. Follow the below link to take a more in-depth look at the style.
Is 2009 the year of embossing, big typography and introduction blocks?
Smashing Magazine has a look at which web design trends we can expect to see more of in 2009. Check out the article in two parts
