Use a neutral-toned reflector if you are photographing in color. The object is then surrounded by a translucent material which is lit from the outside. If the subject is small enough, you can use a plastic gallon milk bottle with the bottom cut out and the top enlarged for the camera lens. When positioned over the subject and illuminated by a pair of floodlights, the light inside the bottle is diffused by the translucent sides of the bottle. The result is a very even lighting of the subject.
Larger subjects require larger light tents.
You can construct a wooden frame and cover it with cloth or plastic sheets. When illuminated from outside by two or more floodlights, the light within the tent will be diffuse and nondirectional. With flash, you can use smaller apertures for greater depth of field, and extremely short bursts of light at close distances prevents camera or subject movement from causing blur. To use electronic flash with predictable results takes a little effort and you may need to practice and experiment. Most point and shoot digital cameras don't allow you to remove the flash and hold it in a different position.