How to make a bokeh filter work?

I have a nikon D90, and I have a 55mm lens. No zoom… So, I went online, figured out how to make one. I tried it, and It didn't work at all, whatsoever. Does it need to be a certain size, angle, any setting changes? I tried with a heart and a star, but nothing worked with either one. Please help.

Added (1). I meant 50 mm, sorry. And i meant when you cut a shape into a piece of paper, and tape it to your filter. Not necessarily called a bokeh filter, I searched how to do it and the article was called bokeh filter. It didn't work though…

What lens is the 55mm? Are you sure you don't mean 50mm? The max aperture is important - it has to be f2.8 or wider, preferably f1.8. Have the lens on manual focus & try some small out of focus points of light to check it.

The shape you cut out has to be fairly small too - no more than about 1cm across. Don't know which site you went on but this one has full instructions;
http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh

Edit: fhotoace - she's referring to SHAPING the bokeh…

The reason it did NOT work, is that there's NO such thing as a Bokeh filter.

Here is what Bokeh is.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/.../bokeh.htm

To get "Bokeh", you need to use at least a fast, medium telephoto lens with the subject close to the lens.

The changing of the out of focus specular highlights from the shape of the aperture to star or hear shapes, requires that you shoot with the lens aperture wide open

Your "filter" only SHAPES the out of focus lights, you still need to shoot in a way that will CRFEATE a bokeh.

You do this by using a very wide aperture (f2.5 or less).

Fhotoace: I think he means a bokeh shaper.
Ex.: http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh

From the sound of it, chances are you cut the shape too large. You shouldn't have to do any special settings on your camera other than adjusting your shutter speed for possible light-loss and shooting with a wide open aperture while making sure the design is cut slightly smaller than the aperture (physically) that you're shooting with.

If you're using a DIY filter, make sure the material you are using (cardboard, paper, etc.) is opaque.

As far as the angle, the design should be parallel to the surface of the lens and also needs to be centered according to the diameter of the lens. Make sure that it is as close to the lens as you can get without actually touching. If you have a UV filter attached to the lens, that would be the perfect distance.

Another problem could be that the background light you are testing it with is either:

A) Not bright enough.or.
B) Not small enough

I remember when I first tried this, I tried it with some ceiling lights that were in a hallway in my house and it barely worked… But then I got a crate of Christmas lights, turned off all the over-head lights in the room so it was pitch black, then turned the Christmas lights on and took the shot. The results worked brilliantly.

If you could post pictures of what you're working with, and the results you're getting, it would most certainly help us help you. =]