what is a good do it yourself way to filter the sun from a fixed lenses camera?

Well yeah one of the issues with compact cameras can be no way to improve them. Nothing you can screw on.

But how about this get a toilet roll and put it around the lens [if it isn't a superzoom a toilet roll would fit fine] and zoom out to the widest. You probably see a tunnel of toilet roll. Right use the backscreen to mark off the point where you still see the toilet roll inside and take off the toilet roll. now put that mark also on the outside using your finger..

Okay then cut off everything beyond the marker.. voila you have made yourself a "hood out of the hood" that is set up for the widest zoom setting.

Sure it looks odd but it will offer the shade you need!

Remember though if the sun is in the frame even this hood out of the hoods cannot aid you. Also shooting a picture the way of where the sun is tends to be a bad idea anyway unless forces. Try to walk a 90 degree corner around the subject either to the left or right. This means the sunlight hits it from the side. and with your hood from the hoods you will have little stray light hitting your lens.

Try out a few things..

Try out the best positions to take.. and remember to enjoy it. Erm yeah lets not go further this answer else might lose its PG13 rating.

Are you trying to shade your camera from the sun, or trying to filter down for a direct shot of the sun?

i have a Kodak and when faced with this problem, i just use my hand to shade the lens. be careful to hold the hand sufficiently away so its not in the shot too. prevention is the best cure, avoid shooting into the sun direction when possible.

Use a foam headphone pad and rubber bands, and ignore the haters.

You need this filter to photograph the sun:

http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/oef-07.htm...

The real issue is how to mount the filter to your camera. This attachment might work:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RBMZTE/ref=oh...

you must have chosen canon instead of kodak