50/365 Close-Ups And A Flash Diffuser

I've decided to do some experimenting with a flash diffuser before investing in a speedlight.  I wasn't overly impressed with the results that I got today, although it was better than the on-camera flash alone.  It seemed to reduce red-eye quite a bit but it didn't live up to the claim that it reduces the harsh shadows caused by flash.  I'm still curious about whether it can be used for macro photography and I'll try that later in the week.