You're starting a great hobby that should give you lots of enjoyment! Although I am just an amateur hobbyist, I will try to answer your questions:

1) You may mount your photos in a variety of ways. Mounting them on cardstock first is called "matting." You could also mount them directly onto the page. You can use glue stick or photo splits (little 2-sided stickers for the backs of photos) or you could use old-fashioned corner mounts. Most people use a variety of techniques.

2)You can print backgrounds with your computer.

3)Some inkjet ink is acid free, some is not. No one really knows how colorfast they are.

4)Color swatches are okay, but are probably not archival, so you might think twice about them.

5)Everyone is different, but when I do a page, I usually use these steps:

1. Choose photos that are sharp, interesting, and thematically related. No amount of embellishment or paper crafting can compensate for poor photos.
2. Examine the colors and mood of the photos and choose the colors of your papers and other page elements accordingly.
3. Decide if you want a one-page or two-page spread.
4. Set the paper out and start setting the photos on the page to determine placement. Fiddle around for awhile with this. Be sure you have a photo that will dominate the layout and become the focal point. Determine where journaling and page headings will be located.
5. Decide if you are going to crop or edge any of the photos, then do so.
6. Mat any photos that you decide need matting.
7. Begin mounting photos onto page.
8. Stare at the pages (which are bare except for the mounted photos) and decide what embellishments, like stickers or whatever, you need. You may decide not to put on the things you had initially set aside for these pages. Also, make a final decision on what kind of lettering you want to use.
9. Do your lettering and journaling, leaving room for embellishments.
10. Add embellishments last.
11. Place sheet in protective sleeve.
    Whew!