Amazing Lace Redux

Yikes! I am beset by technological traps. Either that or I'm developing digital dementia. Last night I worked frantically to be able to post about Extreme Lace before the deadline. The Man of The House had been away and I was unable to figure a way to take photos of myself, so this was a totally last minute project. Then, the pictures taken, I quickly quickly quickly turned them into an easy-peasy (former 1st grade teacher, remember) montage. Holding my breath, I uploaded the project into Blogger. It took! It actually appeared and agreed to be moved to where I wanted it! Published the entry, copied the URL and went to the Lace site to enter the Challenge. Turns out it isn't a matter of simply pasting the URL. There is the dreaded HTML involved. I found the directions, carefully copied down the necessary code, was sure I understood what to do and did it. And...no link. Tried again...highlighted text appeared in the right place, but no link. This stuff is kicking my...afghan... but I'm not giving up. I learned PhotoShop, I can do anything. I just need to find a help source that actually helps. I want to know how to:

• add buttons to the sidebar
• add links to the sidebar
• add links to free patterns to the sidebar and add the patterns to a separate page
• add copyright information to bottom of said pattern pages
• caption the pictures and wrap text.

It can't be that hard - how is it that so many other knitters can find out how to do this stuff and I can't?

If you know, please leave a comment!

Help!

Just for fun:

The first flowers on our heirloom miniature rose bush -