By Kelly Lee-Creel

1. Plant Protector. Hang strips of foil in the garden to deter birds, deer and other animals from eating your plants. Make a collar out of used foil to fit loosely around the stems of seedlings to keep worms and other pests away.

Tip: For more gardening ideas, see our tips on gardening with kids and green thumb rules.

2. Craft Tool Sharpener. To sharpen scissors and scrapbooking punching tools, use them to cut extra sheets of foil. It’ll sharpen them!

Tip: Balls of foil can be used to make craft projects like handmade pinecones.

3. Painting Multi-Tasker. When it’s time to paint, line roller pans with foil to make clean up easier. Cover areas you don’t want to paint like doorknobs and light fixtures. Lay paintbrushes on foil when you’re ready to take a break.

Tip: Crumpled foil makes an interesting surface. Paint over it to create a textured look on walls, cabinets and more.

4. Temporary Window Shade. If you need a quick blackout curtain, aluminum foil taped to a window will do in a pinch. Keep ambient light out so your toddler does not miss a nap while you are traveling.

5. Pet Trainer. Does your cat use the furniture and walls as a scratching post? Cats and other pets do not like aluminum foil. Cover your furniture with a protective layer until they learn to stay away.

6. Ironing Helper. Make ironing more efficient by layering a piece of foil between your ironing board and the article of clothing. The foil reflects heat and will allow you to iron both sides at once.

7. Baking Dish Cleaner. A wadded up piece of foil makes a great scouring pad for glass baking dishes.

8. Baking Tool. Use scraps and leftover pieces of foil in the kitchen for baking projects. Small pieces can be cut into shapes to create toast designs. Or wrap strips of foil around the edges of pie crust to make sure it comes out golden instead of burned.

9. Photo Reflector. Crumple foil and tape it to a piece of foam core or cardboard. Use the reflector to eliminate shadows in your photographs.

10. Shoe Shaper. Use wads of clean foil to help boots and other shoes keep their shape when you’re not wearing them.

Kelly Lee-Creel is a fabric and craft designer in Seattle. Originally from Los Angeles, Kelly was a video game producer with a secret crush on fabric design and pattern making. Lots of hard work, much grace, and many adventures later, she is now pursuing her design dreams full time. She loves fabrics, crafts, decorating and photography -- and blogs about it all on her website, everkelly.com. Her fabrics are licensed and manufactured by Andover Fabrics.