Diffusing the onboard flash...Ideas?

I have been taken over by Macro photography. I have a 350D and Sigma 105mm lens, but I only have the onboard flash right now. Eventually I will grab a speedlite when I have the cash, but for now, I dont want to buy something cheap just for the sake of buying.

I am wondering when techniques people here have used that really work with the onboard flash.

I have heard about the ping pong ball but have not tried it. I tried kleenex, but had less then stellar results. I am thinking of designing something that just rests over the flash, that is very light, but gets the job done.

Until then, does anyone have anything that has worked wonders?

Thanks in advance.

Parm

Take a look at this:

http://www.lumiquest.c​om/softscreen.htm

Is that what you're talking about ?

read you can use masking tape. i used a plastic bag before. those white colour one.

Greaseproof paper? Cut out piece from a pair of tights?

if its for macro use then i'd imagine you need to 'extend' the flash to the end of the lens to prevent a shadow. something like a toilet roll with a bit of tissue over the end might work.

Back when I used onboard flash, I use one of those semi-transparent tops that are on deoderant.

Does anybody have any before-and-after shots to illustrate how well some of these home-made gadgets have worked?

One of the guys in a photography class that I took used the top of a Pringles chip can (the opaque ones, not the clear ones) and cut it to the shape of the flash.

The oldest and try and true metheod is a Hankerchief
which one has most of the time with one!! one layer gives you one type of softness, two layers drops the light level more ,Etc.ETC,.