Illustrator Clipping Mask Stroke

Hello Everyone,

I've spent the past hour trying to figure out how to make a stroke on a clipping mask. Here's what I've done so far (I'm in a class and using Adobe Illustrator CC Revealed 1st edition. I'm working on completing the project shown in Figure 5-83)

I took four letters and united them, making them a compound path. I selected the patterned rectangle behind it and made a clipping mask. After this, I position objects on top of the letters, cut them and paste them 'in front' so that they become a part of the mask. Then I'm supposed to make a stroke around the letters.

I've looked everywhere online and tried every tutorial I can find with no luck. As soon as I make a clipping mask, it seems like Illustrator 'locks' the stroke colors and fill colors. If I just try selecting the whole thing and adding a stroke, I get the rectangle with the pattern shrunk down inside the letters. Not helpful at all. I've tried just selecting the anchors, I've tried adding the stroke at the beginning of the project, I've tried starting the project over thinking I missed a step. I can't convert it to a smart object because it's a graded project, and that would change the whole outcome.

Beyond frustrated with the program, to say the least. Any help anyone can offer would be appreciated. It's for a project due this Sunday.

Thank you,

Jessica.