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I am struggling with clipping masks and after a few hours of scouring the internet and trying different techniques, I am left no closer to my end result than from when I started.  If someone here can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful!

I am creating a banner.  The banner contains 1 background image and some text.  I'd also like to include 9 photos on top of the background image, all bound by a textured border.  I have created the borders for all 9 images and have placed them on the background.  Now, my questions is how I make these base layers of a clipping mask.  I want the the mask to show the image, even through some of the textured border. 

I know how to create the actual clipping mask of the image to be placed in the border.  My question lies entirely within the base layer/border layer.

Thanks in advance!!!