Banners? How do I make professional ones?

So I want to make a few banners for my stories, and I want actual professional ones. I usually make them on Picnik.com, but they never really come out the way I want. I like ones that fade into one another and you can andd multiple pictures...does this make sense?

I just want to know if there's any downloadable programs or anything, and a few suggestions would be absolutley amazing. That, or if any one is willing to make one or two for me it would make me very happy. I really like to make banners on my own, too, though! (:

Thanks so much!!

<3 <3 BL