Start by finding some stationery here that you like.
Right click and save as   -   be sure you keep the same file extension

Now in Outlook Express
Compose new message (this can be email or a newsgroup message, however the recipient will also need to have Outlook Express to view it properly, and so most newsgroups will frown on you sending HTML formatted messages)
Go to format/HTML
Format/background/picture
now browse to your saved picture.

That's it!

Yes, you can use any gif, jpg, or png graphic (OE5 will even let you use a wmf) - BUT be aware that they will "tile" all over in the background with this method.
The "stationery" here has been designed with that in mind, giving you a plainer background where your text will go, so it can be easily read.

If your text is over the top of the graphic part of your stationery, just use the increase indent button in Outlook Express to move the margins over.
It is easiest to do this, if you first type all of your message, highlight all of it (ctrl-a), and THEN hit the increase indent.

Note:
In OE4, unless you wanted to mess with HTML this was the only way to change your margins. It had the unpleasant side effect of also indenting the right hand margin, sometimes making your text into a narrow column.
In OE5, you can still adjust your margins this way, but now there is the stationery wizard that you can use to put in the graphic and set your margins while saving everything as a stationery file that you can use again and again. (To reuse, go to compose new message using... and look for the name of your stationery) For directions using the wizard in OE5, click here
However if you don't want to have to take the time to use the wizard or to make another file for each stationery (and take up room on your hard drive), you can still use the format/background/picture and then use the new direct edit ability to add a margin. This is VERY easy and anybody can do it. To see how, click here.

 

On to the stationery!
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