Any techniques for getting a valve cover off?

I'm having a hard time trying to get the valve cover off on a 97 metro 3cyl. I removed the 4 nuts on the top and the PCV valve pipe from the back and gave it some wacks with a rubber hammer to break the seal according to the haynes manual, but it doesn't budge a bit.

I got a flat blade screw driver inbetween the valve cover and the cylinder head and pryed it a little making sure to not damage the aluminum surface.

It broke the seal but I still couldn't get it to lift off the 4 bolts. Anything I'm missing or any techniques on getting it off.

The four nuts have a rubber sealing grommet under them. Using a sharp awl, poke into the surface of each rubber grommet and unscrew it off the threaded stud. The valve cover will lift off easily then.

Don't pry between the valve cover and the head! There should be plenty of places to do a little prying. Tapping a bit with a rubber mallet and then rocking out should work too. It can be a bit tough, but like ^^^ said, the rubber grommets can hold it down. Make sure you get the 4 of them out first before removing the valve cover - those little buggers tend to fly everywhere when the cover pops off!

I removed the rubber grommets and the cover came off alot easier, thanks alot guys.