my friend makes really nice denim bags, you could try that?
theyre really nice, if you have some old jeans and maybe some black material for the inside. it looks really good if you use strips of different jeans and piece them together on the front of the bag maybe add in some bright coloured fabric? then on the back you could use a back pocket of some jeans to add a little pocket. they look really good once they are finished.
depends on your taste i suppose.
heres two of the ones my friend did::
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/missjef /IMAG0001-3.jpg
(i hope that link works!)
the good thing is you can customise them and add buttons or badges to suit the person your giving them too.
hope it helps.