We used http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/ and while it was higher than your price point, they have a great app and quality finished product. You could probably learn a bit from what they're doing.

There's a lot of design forums but like dev forums, they can be pretty specialized.

Also, most of the best are private or invite only since ppl are looking for feedback or critiques for large clients.

Here's a few you could check out: http://www.qbn.com/ http://forum.howdesign.com/ http://www.designerstalk.com/forums/

We're here, just too busy to make portfolios ;)

Kinda hard with HN, coffee and white chocolate.

Ditto.

i'm working on "that" ;P