Painting Morys Eyes
Put it on very thin and smooth the edges out with your library card.

JulieC
It helps to only run the glue stick in one direction - not back and forth.

Diane B.
When using a glue stick, I use a different paper underneath or a different paper each time to avoid getting glue on the front. I usually apply the gluestick to the edges first (in an outward motion) or at least slowly while holding the paper in place firmly, then rub it around the center area however I want. You can also apply adhesive to the whole area quite easily by using a spray adhesive. Just place the item(s) on a sheet of newspaper or something, then spray their back sides from higher up, starting with a light spray. Do this outside, in a box, or not where the spray in the air will get onto anything else. There are different kinds of adhesive sprays (permanent or repositional) and for different purposes (photos, crafts, heavy duty ones for other needs, etc), but sometimes the permanent ones are repositional if you just wait till they "dry" before applying, or permanent if you apply the spray to both pieces to be joined, etc.