I am really excited about how this one turned out. It is a tote bag made from clear vinyl, and has pockets on both sides that you can place anything you want in. I chose, yet again, some Picasso prints from a book. However, it would be great for things from old calendar images, shopping lists, that bus pass you always lose, your own original art, or book pages (though I recommend being like myself and using pages from "bargain books").
I used 12 gauge vinyl and an industrial needle on my sewing machine. Also, I opted for thread that would stand out from the vinyl, while you could certainly try to find something that would blend in and not become a feature of your bag. This is not a project I would recommend for beginning sewers, as the vinyl can be a bit tricky to maneuver.
One of the best things about this bag is that if you get tired of the art on your bag, you just get to switch it out and you have a brand new bag that can match anything. It also happens to be nice that it is waterproof (being in Portland) and that all you need to do to clean it is wipe it with a wet towel or sponge. If you wanted to take it out in the rain very often I would probably sew a flap over your picture pockets to keep more water out, as these pockets are open.
I chose to use a nylon corded handle because I find them to be pretty comfortable to carry around, but you could opt for canvas, or even make a matching handle with the vinyl itself.
Here is my original concept sketch if you would like to try out your own bag. Measurements are not included, as you can make this bag any size you wish.
Click to enlarge
