i do alot of the mentioned ones and love the ideas everyone has that i haven't tried yet but will . i haven't seen this one mentioned. take scraps or what ever you want and decorate a large oatmeal container. we try and do it in the color or theme of the person bath that is recieving it. we put baggies of cookies or candy ect in it or even shirts or whatever that will fit. then after words they can use it to hold 2 rolls of toliet paper. remembered that seeing the commercial on tv about naked toliet paper lol. we have done that since the 60's. also old cd's can be used for ornaments or coasters. as for material everything is game just like grandma and others before us did.
also above mentioned upholstery fabric that works great for totes or purses too.