Here's what you need.
Sounds like the budget isn't high here, so why don't you try building some townie/chopper type bikes first? You can do it with scrounged materials and a super cheapo welding machine - probably budget under $200 for everything.
You can buy the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071422676/102-1415474-9931300?v=glance
The guy also has a website:
http://www.atomiczombie.com/plans.htm
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you only want to copy an existing bike, you might be better off just buying and riding that bike, and putting your energy into something else. Your first few bikes will be crap. There's just no way around it, unless you spend huge $ to attend UBI or sweep the floor for a local framebuilder for months.
So have some fun with some junk first, and if your first few tries aren't so hot, just cut 'em up and start over. Build bikes that you don't have any performance expectations for. Grocery getters. You can usually find piles of old bike frames at the dump or local recycling center - almost all of those tubes can be reused.
If you find that you've got a knack for it, or you want to move up to doing a "serious" frame, then call up Hank at Henry James and get some tubes, lugs, etc.
-Walt