The first time I tried FMQ, I did just what you're doing . . . made a few samples and then did it on a Downy quilt. (I hate practice that doesn't turn into something real, and so I did it on a Downy quilt.) First, I set up my laptop next to my sewing machine, and then I watched tutorial after tutorial from this blog:
http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365difficultymain.htm
I watched the tutorial, then decided if it was something I could do, then I did it. I did something different in every block. It worked out fine. My designs didn't always look anything like hers, but they weren't bad.
Finally . . . I was very forgiving of my work. If you expect too much from yourself on your first try, you'll get discouraged and give up. That would be a shame because you would be depriving yourself of the experience you need to become really good at it.
I'm not an expert, I'm not even very good at it, but I just keep trying. If I don't like the look of what I end up with, I look the other way.