I use Corel Photopaint 12 but I am right into HDR imaging at the moment, you might want to give that a go - I use Photomatix to do this.
Here's an example:
http://i1028.photobuc.../CopyrightATL2010.jpg
Yes .. several times .. I made christmas cards from photos of local church.
Effects .. Photo effects and Art Media effects are pretty cool.
Especially the "Time Machine" process!
One I had forgotten about which requires a bit of effort to use is PostworkShop http://www.postworkshop.net/ - the basic edition is free - but with a bit of patience the results are excellent.