Anyone who’s watched television in recent months will have seen adverts for mechanical painting systems that promise to eliminate dirty paint trays and messy rollers that have to be washed out after use. They are usually promoted as being quick and easy to use with flawless results, enabling even the clumsiest painter to transform a room in a fraction of the expected time.

But do these miracle paint systems really work and are they value for money? We tried a system priced at the lower end of the market and felt rather disappointed, especially as the paint container, which was located inside the roller, flipped open halfway through the job and we ended up with a rather irritating spillage on our kitchen floor!

The roller on this particular system was also disappointing, having a slightly longer pile that would traditionally be more useful for painting artexed ceilings.

Checking out consumer reviews for the more expensive models, it seems that the machines themselves are prone to breaking or malfunctioning after a few uses and there have been complaints that paint coverage is rather thin. Perhaps there isn’t a hi-tech solution to decorating those awkward spaces and ceilings after all, and it’s best to employ traditional methods.

Any professional painter and decorator will tell you that the secret to hassle free decorating is in the preparation. Walls should be washed down so that they are free from dirt and greasy marks, holes should be filled in and rubbed down and skirting boards and window and door frames should be neatly masked with a good quality masking tape to create clean lines and avoid unsightly splashes of excess paint.

Floors also should be protected and light fittings unscrewed so that you’re not painting around them, which delivers an amateur finish.

Investing in some good quality paint brushes is a must. Cheap brushes easily lose their filaments, which can become stuck to the wall and cause excess paint to get onto the ceiling when you’re working on the top border. Some decorators swear by rollers, but the finish is all in the action, as paint is worked in from side to side. Simply rolling up and down won’t offer an even result.

Alternatively, good quality paint pads are easy to use and offer more control. They come in different sizes, and are less likely to cause splashes than over-loaded rollers. They’re also easier to clean under running water and if you invest in reasonable ones, they have plenty of life in them, which makes them an economical choice.

TO ADVERTISE IN CRAFTMODO USE CONTACT FORM AT TOP RIGHT

Buttons come in all shapes and sizes, from 6ins at the high end to tiny baby buttons.

Making buttons is an interesting hobby, and I’m told it has many fanatical adherents. Perhaps the most interesting from a hobby point of view, are photo buttons. Hobbyists can use their own bespoke pictures — perhaps of family members — to decorate their buttons.

American Button Machines make every type of machine imaginable, and supply the materials to make the buttons. They list possible users of their photo button maker as:

* professional photographers
* sports teams
* churches
* schools
and for use as commemorations of important family events.

Available sizes are:

* 2 1/4″ Photo Button Machine System
* 3″ Photo Button Machine System
* 3 1/2″ Photo Button Machine System.

If you’re looking for a satisfying new craft you might not have thought of before, why not try button making?

Growing your own crystals is great fun and amuses the kids on hot summer days.

Whether you grow your own as decoration, jewelry, or for some other use — would you believe as a deodorant, it’s really very simple.

So let’s start with the deodorant. You may have seen “safe” forms of deodorant in healthy living shops. Often they come in the form of large crystals of Potassium Aluminium Sulphate, or Alum.

They have the advantage of being free of Aluminium Chlorohydrate, which has been implicated in ill health. Natural deodorant crystals are suitable for the most sensitive skin, are hypoallergenic and last a long time. Furthermore, they won’t stain your clothes or discolour your skin.

If you prefer the decorative side of crystal making, just add some food coloring to the mix.

You can grow these crystals quite easily with a little bit of knowledge. You will need :

* An ounce of Alum from a local store or online at Pans Pantry.
* A glass jar.
* A clean stick.
* Warm water.
* Thread.
* Small, sharp stones, cleaned well.

Method
1. Pour enough warm water into the jar to cover the stones — but don’t put the stones in yet.

2. Add the Alum and stir well until it stops dissolving. A small residue will be left.

3. Add food colouring if desired.

4. Tie a small stone to the thread and the other end to the stick. Place the stick across the top of the jar so that the stone dangles in the liquid.

5. Put the jar in a warm place to aid evaporation.

The first crystals will appear in a few days. You can add more Alum to make them bigger.

The biggest crystals can be rubbed under arms as a “safe” home-made deodorant.

Craftlinks is a search engine for crafts of all kinds in Britain. If you’re looking for something special or specific, or seeking ideas for your own crafting, give it a try.

You can also take the “grand tour” which shows snatches of information about the many sites listed.

Craftlinks says of itself :

CraftLinks.co.uk has become one of the largest sources of information in the UK for handmade goods, crafts materials, groups and courses. The Directory currently features 47 crafts (e.g. Scrapbooking) represented in 5 categories (e.g Suppliers). There are over 2000 UK craft websites listed with new sites being listed daily.

This is a very interesting portal approach to aggregating lots of sites dedicated to crafting.