Actions in PSE 5.0

[lg_schmisa]

I have seen alot out there in the digital scrapbooking community about actions. I understand the basics of actions (that it combines a bunch of steps together for a photo into one step), but what I don't understand is how to or when to use it in my LO's. I have seen action kits with bows, buttons, frames, etc.....to me they look like more embellishments. I have also read that they can work in PSE, but I tried one night just to see if I could figure them out and I couldn't even get anything installed.
SO......could someone give me the lowdown on all this action buzz so that I could hopefully understand it and use them to make some really fun LO's?
Thanks!

[littlekiwi]

Actions go in one of 2 places

XP
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop
Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\layer styles

Vista
C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\layer styles