well php processes data - that data can be submitted via a form, pulled from a database, put into a database and processed in any way you wish. You can output html code from php and that html code can include php variables e.g. the username of the current user may be displayed.
but html is very easy you can use a "what you see is what you get package" like dreamweaver or I think microsoft front page (haven't used front page) where you design the webpage as if you were using powerpoint and in another window you see all the html code appearing by magic.
just do a google search for html coding - it's very easy and not worth paying for a book. or perhaps even better would be to design in dreamweaver and just watch what html code is being created. all you really do is format text and create tables with rows and columns. graphics are a different ball game and often unnesessary because people are normally hunting for information on t'internet. but of course that would depend on the nature of your ideas.
keep the questions coming though - this is definately a case of easy when you know how.
MrS
edit: just to clarify, php works on the 'server side' and is used to produce the html output. so everytime you want a new page you have to call a webpage, click a link or submit a form. whereas the likes of javascript (or do i mean java, can never remember the difference?) works on the user's computer and responds instantly to the user's requests. but javascript is normally overkill.
websites that use php with sql include facebook and wikipedia so although easy it's very scaleable approach.