Hi Paul
 
 Making your first skin can be problematic. I would suggest that it might be a good idea to copy the entropy skin and then modify this to suit your needs. That way you at least have all the css correct and floats will work.  That said this default skin use tables too (suspect this is to load older modules correctly) and as it needs to be multiple width sizes the image css is complex.
 
 I use MS Expression web for skinning. I also drop the style sheet onto the aspx page so I can see whats going on when I make css changes. Like many I ignore the html files. I simply work on the aspx and ftp to my skin folder. I never bother uploading via the skin parser.
 Sometimes one issue causes others - I sometimes deconstruct a problem skin bit by bit until I find the issue.  Check as you go by uploading new index.aspx and css files onto a test page.
 
 Use FireFox with developer tools to find errors much easier. (CSS menu/View Style information)
 
 Be aware that you almost certainly qualify for the MS Website Spark programme. (Free Expression, Free VS2008, Free Window server, Free SQL server). See this blog here at DNN
 http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/825/EntryId/2375/DotNetNuke-Corp-joins-Microsoft-Website-Spark-Program.aspx
 
 There are also many free skins that may be a good starting point.  I have some basic dnn 5 skins that all go green in the FF checker. Happy to zip one up and email it this helps. service at clubwebs.co.uk
 
 Finally - don't give up - when your first skin is working in al the browsers - even in IE8 its a very satisfying experience.
 
 click click
 Ian