Object Desktop was the way I went. It offers the most options and flexibility. You'll have "more ways to go" and cobbling the software piecemeal is more expensive.

That raises the uncomfortable question, "How much do you want to invest?" and practically, "How much can/should you be investing?"

Only you can answer those....and do talk to Stardock sales...you never know what they can do and what deal you might luck into.

Be patient, read as much as you can about the software,  and the sys reqs. Don't be ashamed to ask questions before you take the plunge.

Oh yes...welcome to this addiction. You're officially doomed. Welcome to the Island of the Damned. 

I don't think iconpackager is, but logonstudio and wb work with 7, I'm using them both.

This will tell you which works with what, most is 7 compatible.

https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/purchase.asp

Good find, bebi.

Typically I watch the galleries and when i find a killer skin i want to use no mater what app it is for ,WB or IP or winamp,xion DX etc.. I then find skins that I think go well with it for the rest of the applications I use...

I'd recommend trying out the free versions of Stardock skinning programs before you decide to not buy anything. Once you see what your computer looks like when everything is skinned, you may get hooked, as the doctor says. That's what happened to me. I started out with the free ObjectDock, found out about the rest, and ended up buying ObjectDesktop. Here's a link where you can find all the trial versions: https://www.stardock.com/downloads/