Using Stationary

[Nitasha]

I have developed custom stationary for myself in html. I have used a background in the table and when i send the email to myself, the background in the table doesn't show up, why is that

I have tried doing the background in the page itself, but then when the other person hits a reply, the background stays on the reply message... i had rather make the background on the table itself
pls help

Thanks
Nitasha