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Okay, You asked for it and here it is. After much deliberation and soul searching...and most importantly after answering e-mail after e-mail from people asking us how we do it. Karen and I decided to give it all to you, once and for all. We aren't going to be losing anything, though. We know you will be back, because you are addicted, just like us. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here right now. So sit back, take notes and by all means, book mark this page. No matter how much stationery you make, you'll still want to find more....that's just the way it is! Enjoy!

Step #1: Download Internet Explorer 4.0 and make sure you get it with Outlook Express. Without this program, you can't do anything else on this page. You more than likely already have this program, or you wouldn't be here. But just in case you just happened to stumble upon this page, go here first: Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0

Step #2: The next program you need is Web Express. I use it for everything! It is meant to be used to create web pages, but when you create stationery in Outlook Express, you are actually creating a mini web page. Both use html and you can be just as creative with stationery as you can be with a web page. I have a link to Web Express on my HELP! page, but if you don't feel like running around my web space (shame on you!) go here next. (By the way, these directions are for Web Express 2.0, because that's what Karen and I use. If you download the newer version and the program has changed too much, e-mail me and I'll try to help you through it. If all else fails, I'll download the newer version : Web Express

Okay, now that we've gotten the hardware out of the way, let's have some fun! If you have Outlook Express, play with it for a while. Get the feel for using the pre-installed stationery, before you get started making your own. We'll still be here when you get back, honest!

Now that you know what to do with the stationery once you have it, start playing with your Web Express. This may sound like I'm holding out, but you'll thank me for it later. I'm just going to teach you the basics...I learned everything I know by asking questions and playing with the program when I couldn't find an answer. Push all of the buttons, get to know the program and what it does and become comfortable with it. When we get down to the nitty-gritty you won't be afraid to try the things I tell you to try. Trust me, I know what I'm doing! (Most of the time!)

Done playing already!?! Okay, the time has come. Are you paying attention? Good. Below I am going to give you step by step instructions on how to make one piece of e-mail stationery. I'll let you chose the background and the graphic that you like best. When you get a background and a graphic that you like, come back and go through the instructions one by one and I promise you, you will be making your own stationery in no time.

1: Find a background that you like. Don't know how to find one, or download it? Bare with me, I've been doing this for so long, it's all second nature for me. Try one of my links on my graphics page, or go to Karen's page and try some of her links. Most of them have backgrounds and graphics and if they don't, they can tell you where to get one or both. Once you find the graphics, follow these directions on how to download them. Right click your mouse on the graphic you want to use. When the download box comes up do, the following:

Open your Hard Drive, usually labled (C:)
Open Program Files
Next is Common Files
Then Microsoft Shared
Finally Stationery!

This may sound a little complicated, but don't worry. After you have done it a couple of hundred times, you will go there whether you need to or not. I promise this will not be the last time that you put anything in this file. I even put my web page files in here so I know where everything is. I use the same backgrounds and graphics for stationery that I use for my web page, so my stationery file is HUGE!

2: Okay, you have your graphics....now open up your Web Express. If you don't have many graphics, the next step is easy. If your file looks anything like mine or Karen's, this could take a while! When you open up Web Express, you start with a blank page. No problem! Right click your mouse and Viola! Another menu! Go to the bottom of the menu and click on Web Page Properties. I know, I know, you're not building a web page, but remember, the same basic principles apply. When you click on Web Page Properties a tool box will pop up. Go to Background options. If you want to use a colored background and forego a picture background, feel free. Some graphics actually look better without a picture behind it. Be creative, you decide. If you use a color background, chose one and hit okay. You can skip to the next step now, but if you want to use the picture you picked out, follow along. On the background square there is a drop menu beside a box with three dots inside it. Click on the box. Go through the steps above to find your stationery file. If you skip a step, or get lost, just go up or back one. If all else fails, click cancel and start over. When your stationery file is opened you need to find the graphics that you want to use. Where did all of those other files come from? They are the pre-installed stationery files that you use when you open the stationery that came with your program. The only way that your stationery will work is if all of the graphics you want to use are in this file. Remember that! Now it's time to put your graphic on the background!

3: Like your background? Good, it's time for the next step! If your cursor is not blinking where you want the graphic placed, go to the top of the page. Hit the Format menu and chose Paragraph. From there, pick an option. Center, Right, Left....your choice. Once the curser is where you want it, Look at the top of the page and notice the icons. In the 7th group from the left there is an icon that looks like a little picture of a mountain. When you run your mouse over it, it tells you that it is the Insert Image Icon. Click on the icon. When the menu comes up, click on file. Here we go again! Follow the files until you get to your Stationery file. Actually, you will probably be there already, but just in case you aren't, be prepared. The practice will be good for you! Find your graphic and click on it and click Okay...another menu will come up and you need to choose Okay again. When you do, your graphic will be on your background and you are only one step away from having usable stationery!

4: Once the graphic is placed, and you like what you see, decide where you want the text to go. This is important, because if you don't remember to place the text before you exit, your text can be a little difficult to place once you enter Outlook Express. Put the curser down a few spaces and go back up to Format and follow the same instructions. Don't worry about what type of text you use, I usually change my text all of the time in Outlook Express anyway. Besides, changing the text is another whole lesson, believe me!

5: Now, you can either go to the file menu and Close or Save. Either one will work. If you think you may want to make changes, choose Save. If you've had enough fun for now, hit Close. Either way, you will be prompted to name your creation and place it in the right file. Where will you put the file? You guessed it! Keep going until you get it in that Stationery File. ( I told you I open that file alot!) Once your stationery is named and placed in the Stationery File, you are set!

6: Open Outlook Express! Hit the down arrow beside Compose and go down to More Stationery. If you placed everything in the right place, the stationery that you just created and named should be there. Open the stationery and enjoy! If the stationery you created isn't there, don't panic. This was just a practice session. You can keep trying and I will pray that I didn't miss a step. If you try again and it still doesn't work, you know where to find me. My guestbook is above and there is a link to my e-mail address on my HELP! page. Below you will find a few more tips, tricks and pointers. Good luck!

Okay, okay, I admit it. I put this page up so fast that Karen didn't get to look over it before I had it done. You see, Karen is a brave soul, who is not afraid to try new things. I, on the other hand, am not quite so adventurous. The point is, she now uses Outlook '98. I am still in the stone ages with Outlook Express. (And very happy, thank you!) If you are the type of person who needs to be up to date, here is the link to Outlook '98. Enjoy!

Microsoft's Outlook 98

If you are using an animated graphic, don't panic if you don't see it move, or even if you don't see it at all! Web Express doesn't show animation. When you open it in Outlook Express, you will see it move. If you don't see the graphic at all, click in the area that you placed it with your mouse and it will be outlined with red lines. This way, you will at least have an idea of where you placed it.

You can re-name the graphics that you get from other pages to help you remember what they are as you download them. This way you won't be rummaging through a bunch of numbers and letters to find the graphic you need.

Since we are discussing downlaoding from other people's pages, let's talk about etiquette. Don't just steal graphics. If you see somthing on a page that you like and the creator has requested that you don't take it...don't take it! People work really hard to make cool looking graphics and if they have a few that they don't want to share, respect that. You will be able to find something just as cool somewhere else, or even at another page on their site. There are hundreds of graphics sites out there, don't stop at just one!

I have written to many people about the graphics on their pages and most people are very responsive. They like to be complimented, just like you and I. If you see something that really blows you away, write and tell them about it. You might even make a new friend!

Okay, I'm done for now. I hope I have given you enough to keep you busy for a while. If you learned something, let me know. If I forgot something, let me know. If Karen and I have been any help to you at all, let both of us know and you will be rewarded by us giving you even more tips and by us taking you to the next step in making stationery. You'd be surprised what kinds of useful (or useless as the case may be!) information we have when we put our heads together!

By the way, if you tried everything here and you still can't get your stationery to work...never fear! Karen and I still can't stop making it. We see a cool graphic, an awesome background or hear an inspring midi and it gets our creative juices flowing. Just go to Karen's page and download some more, there's bound to be something there that catches your eye. Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it. Whether it's your creation or ours, it's meant to put a smile on your face!

Okay folks....the next chapter in our never ending saga has begun. You have once again filled our e-mail with question after question, so we picked the one that seemed to be most pressing and ran with it! Click on Pooh and see what we've been up to. Have fun!

Boy, have you guys been busy! And guess what?!? We have, too. Here you will find the latest most sought after installment of our crash course in stationery creation. Hope you have fun, I know we did!