And as another know-nothing mess around type guitar player, I've found that often you can take a finger off a string, for emphasis, A becomes what in chord books is called I think A2 if you take your finger off the B string. (Heart uses this a lot, ditto D) If playing rhythm take all your fingers off on the up or down beat....as long as you don't linger the dissonance is not noticeable. Figure out runs between the chords you use often (then don't use them all the time!); sometimes, like at the start of a song, play single note melody for 2-4 beats, especially useful if the chord doesn't clearly give you a good starting place.

Figure out good chords to slide....B7, for instance works well in several places on the fret board, as does D, even an A, slide up one fret gives a very Flamenco sound. Get creative w/barre chords...play only the strings that you can easily manage....sliding an Am up 2 frets gives you a very servicable Bm in most cases but w/o the barre (thank you, Amos, for that timely tip!).

And I agree....if you are accompanying yourself, the guitar is in service to to the song...make the song strong, and it doesn't take much to create a charming accompaniment....just a matter of working it out.

You are obviously enjoying the process of making music....me too. A guitar is a great friend.