Shaped bokeh photographs?

I want to take photos with shaped bokeh! I can easily create them unshaped… But when it comes to the cool shapes, I'm lost.
http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh I've followed these instructions, but am still confused. Also, when I place the filter over the lens, the shape just frames the photo.
I own a Nikon d3100. What setting does my camera have to be at? Aperture, etc.

What aperture did you set the lens with this in place?

I believe they make filter sets for easy bokeh shape customization. As for aperture value, open your aperture as wide as you can, as that will give you the largest and most noticeable bokeh.

Large aperture, long-ish shutter speeds (I usually try to go anywhere from 1/125 to 1/20 depending on how bright the lights are, you can play around with it, though, and see which you like best). The camera needs to be unfocused, but I'm sure you knew that because you said you can make regular bokeh. How big is the shape? It has to be pretty small in order for it to work… That's really the only things I can think of required to make bokeh. Hopefully one of those will help you out.

Put a piece of black paper with a shape cut out over the lens (preferably in the middle) and shoot out of focus… It ain't rocket science…

put on manual and practice until you get something you like…

only you can decide what setting suit you… And that is with experimentation…

Sounds as if your shape cut out is too large, since you can do it unshaped.

It's not about the camera. It's about the lens… For shapes, you need a lens with a low aperture setting, as they explain in the instruction (I guess F1.8 is the minimum?).so… What lens do you have?