I did manage to make a softbox a la ATJ's directions (http://andrewtrevor-jones.com/softbox.html)
Mine ended up being 300x300 as that was the size of the cardboard I used (stiffeners from Calendars)
Score: I Scored the lines where the cardboard had to bend:

Artificial Light
AN old (it was my grandmother's!) kerosene lamp I have & still use. Wish I had dusted it for the photo though. I used my new softbox for the lighting, so you can choose which is the artificial light. I exposed for the lit mantle, then using the same camera settings, altered the flash power until I was happy with the balance between the two light sources.
THe flash was to the LHS, just out of frame. I also used a reflector front, right to add a little detail to the dark side.

Cake:
The topic inspired Pam to make some cakes using the egg whites left over from the Christmas Custard. YAY! I love her friands. This was the first photo I took using my newly constructed softbox. I love the way the reflections are controlled using it. I don't think Pam managed to get her photos done though

