Full Frame sensor or crop sensor?

Hello everyone!

New guy here interested to get started in shooting some pictures.  Just a quick back story for myself.  I am a professional graphic designer, so I am used to seeing great images vs bad images.  Because of this I feel like, as a beginner, I am going to be rater picky how my images turn out.

I have a friend that has a Full frame sensor 5D Canon and I have seen some of the great low lights and images that he can get that camera to do.  Currently I am in store for getting a camera and I am finding that full frame cameras are rather pricey.  Right now the Nikon d7000 and the Canon 5d Mark II both have my interested, however I am finding it difficult to decided which camera would fit me better.  Would it be smart for me to go Full frame or stick with the crop?

I would love to keep my budget under $1000, however I am finding that $1700 is required for a full frame.  Any advice would be welcomed!  Let me know what you think of either camera or even something that would suite me better...

Thanks!