Sounds like you're having a blast with it! Enjoy yourself, learn all you can, don't take shortcuts, and if you do learn why you don't from them. Patience is a virtue in this hobby, my young friend. One day at a time, study every wiggle, every color change, the days it takes for such changes, and eventually how the care of them affect the overall outcome.
Learn, no one ever became an expert from reading internet articles. You're doing an awesome job by taking the initiative to test what you've read, and the determination to continue after failing before. That in itself is something to be proud of.
If you need any help, or have any questions, I'd be willing to help you out, just shoot me a PM.
Blessed love,
-Dave
SPF