Need help with my menu - Current issue is item grid layout

[LilyFrog]

I actually do have a mock up, which I managed to partially construct in the code (only pictures though) after finally figuring out how to display pictures. But it's really ugly and full of other things I haven't figured out yet. Here it is though:



It's supposed to replace the main menu (I'm trying to make something kind of like an item based puzzle game or adventure game). Most if not all of it will probably end up being image based, but I'm trying to approach it one thing at a time, for the most part. I'm still trying to figure out how to get rid of that dumb black space around the inside edge of the window border.

So I want to be able to change the character image and the background (which I just copied one of the panorama graphics to test it with) back and forth between different images depending on what's going on. So say that maybe the character changed outfits, or got hurt, and the character graphic changed accordingly. I want to be able to use a variable within events, if that's possible, to determine that.

Also I really do appreciate that. I do want to understand how everything works so I can apply that information later.