This is the program that helped me get started.
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com...inkie_as.shtml
I use ImageReady CS by the way. And Photoshop CS but mostly ImageReady, of course.
Once you get a good handle on the layers and frames for the animation and timing, etc.....I can help you with putting fun text on there. It's not hard it is just tedious (for the lack of a better word). Fun and worth it, though!
Seriously it's hard to give directions for this stuff over the net but if I can answer any of your questions or help in any way just let me know!