As I mentioned in an earlier post, cleaning a brush properly after use makes it a better tool in the long run. Ten minutes spent cleaning at the end of the day pays off in easier and better work the next time.

Most paints these days wash out with water and washing-up liquid - but it does require a little perseverance to get all of the paint out of a brush. Let the faucet run and work the bristles with your hands until the water comes off clear. Squeeze the water out and give it a few flicks to get rid of excess water, then put an elastic band around the bristles to hold them together.

You will find that the next time you need that brush, it is softer and less prone to leave brush marks than it was when brand new. In time, the ends of the bristles become worn into the shape that best suits your painting style; this makes them a joy to use. I have seen old decorators using brushes with bristles half their original length, so reluctant is their owner to give them up and break a new set in.

If you are going to be continuing with a job the next day, you can get away without cleaning the brush. Cover the bristles with saran wrap (cling film) and hold it in place with an elastic band. This will prevent the paint from drying overnight and you will be able to carry on painting the next morning. It’s a terrible thing to do to a brush, however, and should be avoided if possible - it just makes cleaning that much more difficult in the end.

All of this can be done with rollers too, although it takes a little longer to get all the paint out of a roller. It’s worth it in the long run, believe me. And, whatever you do, don’t become one of the “oh stick it in some turpentine and then discover it’s gone hard six months later” brigade!

Now that we have the walls painted, it’s time to do something about the doors. That means gloss paint and it’s a very different technique that we use here. Essentially, our aim is to cover with one coat, even if the new color is lighter than the old.

So we need to get a good thickness of paint on in one go and yet avoid the dreaded runs and drips. We could do it the hard way and build up with two or more thinner coats but the idea is to enjoy your work - after you’ve painted a door that many times, you’ll never want to see another again.

So let’s do it in one. Using the same wrist style as we used on the wall (well, okay, we can go straight up and down a lot more here if it’s easier), slap that paint on. As soon as you’ve finished the first area, run the brush lightly downwards over the surface of the new paint. Now run it across the paint horizontally until the painted surface is entirely cross-hatched.

Keep doing that until the door is covered and then wait until it’s dry. Then you can run your fingers across the surface and experience the joy of a completely smooth paint job without runs. This cross-hatching works every time, giving a hard, flat finish that looks great - and no brush strokes will be visible. And it takes no more than a few extra seconds!

This is an easy craft for kids to do with a little supervision and makes use of simple things and the natural products of crisp, fall days.

Have the kids go out into the yard and find the prettiest fall leaves they can. Give them each a paper bag or plastic shopping bag to collect them in. The hard part of this activity is stopping, since yet another beautifully colored leaf will always strike the eye. When they have gathered enough, it is time to begin.

For this project gather together the following:

* Roll of white freezer paper or kraft paper
* Roll of clear Con-Tact paper
* Scissors
* School glue or glue sticks

Measure the size of your placemats by cutting equal size sheets of Con-Tact paper and the kraft or freezer paper. Con-Tact paper backing is marked off in inches so this makes it easy to do without rulers. Cut the Con-Tact paper first and lay it on the kraft or freezer paper to measure equal size sheets.

Next, have the kids glue the leaves to the paper, arranging them with their own artistic eye. They can add other items to their masterpieces, such as construction paper cut-outs of pumpkins or pieces of ribbon. They need to leave space between the items so that there is contact between the adhesive side of the Con-Tact paper and the bottom sheet. To make the mats personalized, you can include a wallet size picture (such as a school portrait) or have the children write their names on the paper. Make sure they secure the edges of the leaves with glue to make it easier to apply the Con-Tact paper smoothly.

The last step is where they need Mom the most. Peel the backing paper off the pre-cut pieces of Con-Tact paper and press it over the top of the creation. Go slowly and smooth carefully as you go, working out air bubbles. If you want to, you can put another piece of the clear Con-Tact paper on the bottom to seal the mat and make it last. For a nice effect, trim the edges with pinking shears.

Having bought the paint, it’s merely a matter of putting it on the wall, right? Well, there’s the minor matter of what method you use to apply it. These days, everyone uses a roller and it’s quick, I have to admit. But you’re going to have to buy some brushes to cut in around the fiddly bits anyway so, if you have the time, it’s worth considering doing the whole wall with a brush. In some situations (where it’s important to avoid paint spots flying onto other areas, for instance), a brush is the best solution.

When buying a brush, quality is important. Go for the best you can afford and avoid those awful things with plastic bristles. Again, this will be a saving in the long run because it’s more likely that you will clean the brush after the job if you’ve paid more for it. Cleaning is what turns a tool into a friend rather than something to swear at. Any brush will get better with use and, if you’re the type who buys cheap and throws away after one use, you will never discover the joys of using an old brush that has learned to work with you. Carry on picking out the bristles that a new brush sheds if you really couldn’t be bothered with cleaning properly.

Buy a bigger brush than you think you will need. Those silly little things that people use to cut around edges are just time-wasters. They encourage you to get too picky about details and, before you’ve finished, you’re exhausted. A bigger brush will give you confidence once you’ve found out how easy it is to use and the job will be finished in short order.

If you’ve decided to paint the whole wall with a brush (that’s the spirit!), pick the largest brush you can find. Don’t worry if it seems too unwieldy for you - that’s because you’re holding it incorrectly. Grab the body of the brush just above the bristles with that handle thing sticking out between your fingers and thumb and pointing back at you. If you hold it by the handle, you’ll start making great sweeps with your arm and that will give you a lousy finish, apart from tiring you out. The idea is to use a wrist action, spreading the paint out evenly from where you start. This also makes it easy to brush in many directions, thereby ensuring that you avoid that streaked appearance that the roller was invented to cure. Spread the paint out in all directions from a central spot and your finish will be as good or better than a roller’s.

Okay, now I’ve got you painting, I’ll leave you to it until a later post. Keep that wrist action going and you’ll be able to stay at the job as long as it takes. And your finish will be so good that you’ll want to point it out to visitors!