Shoutbox

Recently i have took to redesigning my website and decided to finally sit down and learn CSS. So, i took out my notpad and pen and wrote down loads of notes on it from www.w3schools.net (or w/e). But, i come to do my website and this hasnt worked properly... its the link on my signature, i have siplified the website to very easy colours to work with to see if it was just not working with a more complex build... but... here is the problem... i am used to using tables in HTML, so i use them, insert a background image and write the text in that. Tis time i have tried to write on just a peice of white (a jpg of pure white) and the jpg is not showing. ie, i dont think it is reading it as a table, but simply ignoring it. I have also added a simpler border than i wanted through CSS in the head, but it still doesnt show without the CSS in the head... strange, can anyone help me out please? (a fiver says hmaster replies... lol)