I see some people are using credit cards or the plastic container that the cpu comes in, to actually spread the grease.  I saw another one where the guy made a X.  What's the recommended method now or what is the best method?  Someone even spread it on the cooler instead of the cpu.  One video showed the the cpu temperature of 31C after doing it this way.  

I I just finished my build. Scrape the old paste with a non magnetic plastic card and clean with a cloth slightly damp with pure alcohol.

Allow to dry, wipe residue with a clean dry cloth.

Apply new thermal paste, I have tried several methods in the past, but am back to the traditional method of a pea sized drop in the middle of the cpu. Don't spread it, allow the cooler to push it where it needs it. Done!

So far I have only used the pea size drop in the middle and had good temps relative to my clock. I don't like to mess around too much when applying that stuff and especially watch the quantity, because many of the products like the one I use (Arctic Silver 5) is highly conductive "electrically", which means that if you get it anywhere on that Mobo other than where it supposed to be, your Mobo is toast.

Less is best where thermal paste is concerned too much and it will actually have the opposite effect. A small spot slightly smaller than a pea in the middle and it will spread when the CPU and Fan are pulled together by the retaining clip.

Inovation Cooling who make the diamond paste did lots of research and determined that the blob in the centre method produces best results.

 

This is the best way to avoid cavities. Spread it, and you will get air pockets.

 

The pressure from the cooler will give you a nice, even, thin layer with no air pockets.

I had done the original pea size method and took my cpu off.  The grease had actually spread in a square.  I had gone to Intel's website and they recommend the pea size.  So, I did that again...