Sticky fingers and burned too!

My OH's friend likes to dabble in woodcraft and because OH had helped him out quite a bit this year he asked him what he would like him to make for him so OH suggested a nice glass lidded wooden box for one of his replicas. When in the UKlast year we bought some railway modeling mix to make a mold for the replica so we could close the lid on the box having the object half immersed inside the box. Had to add a woman's touch however as friend suggested lining it with satin lining whereas I thought something more substantial was required to do it justice. I chose grey pigeon grey velvet only for OH to decide once it was installed that the box needed another coat of varnish round the top on the inside. He put masking taped on the velvet, painted then left it to dry but unfortunately the masking tape stuck so well to the velvet that it pulled out the fibres when it was removed.

Today I have relined the box and to neaten up round the edges I sat and hand sewed velvet piping and didn't have a clue how I was going to secure it. Flash of inspiration as I have a glue gun in the cupboard from when I made my halloween outfit last year. Plugged it in then proceeded to glue - what a fiddle but what a surprise when OH came home and saw the box waiting for him on the dining room table. I now however have two scorched fingers! Is there some trick anyone knows so the the glue goes to where it's needed without getting it all over my hands?

Sticky fingers and burned too!