Muz I am always happy to help.  For me its a bit of an addiction .

Download the ProShow Producer for a trial run, truly it can be as simple as drag and drop the pictures into a box.  You can select all and have random movement and effect between the slides or do your own.  The page curl I got for free from an "enthusiasts" site and the typewriter in the roll Youtube another one.  I know the program is not cheap but if you get fun from it and you can make DVDs to play on the tv of family, holiday, sports etc its can be worth the outlay.  You can combine video clips with the stills.  I sent my big expensive out of warranty camera off to the Hospital and couldnt stand not having a camera so have little one which does video as of the other day and will at times now combine the two.

The flying things I cut out using a photoshop or paint shop pro program and save as a gif.  I sometimes use Animation 3 which I think is free here and there on the web and I used that to do the smoke coming from Sootys chimney.

Check if you have Windows "Movie Maker" on your computer already, you can make Youtubes in that just with less options.

I started this in the old days in frustration of wanting my siggies done a certain way and colour lol and the old msn groups had lots of places with tutorials to learn.  Youtube has some tutorials and the Proshow Enthusiasts group is helpful with freebies and some tutorials.

If you get it and have a play and then need a few simple pointers you could always come and camp here for a couple of days and maybe we could have Jill and Rob and partners over for a mini COG.  Like you slotting things in can be a problem but there would have to be some time we are both free.

Great presentation Carolyn
I luvs yer work

Aart

another top youtube presentation carolyn

well done

jack