Ive been trying for hours now but illustrator wont allow me to create clipping mask

Question

I have created the attached logo wit the pen tool. I then cut the middle bit out using the shape builder tool.
I imported this onto a new document containing an image/object i want to clip it to . I select both go to object> make clipping mask.
Both objects suddenly go blank and i can see the no fill/ no stroke icons. If this doesnt happen then ai will plain and simply say "cannot make clipping mask".
This has been bothering me for a couple days now.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

herms-ra.
You can do it in a quite different/similar way with Cliping masks, without or with the purple/flamelike/smoky coloured background.
Note: There was an error in the first suggestion in post #18: In Step 5) you should select C) (the purple/flamelike/smoky coloured background to cut from) instead of D) (the underlying texture of the dripping black parts), sorry, I just spotted it.
You may (reusing part of the first suggestion):
1) Go back to, or start anew with, the following basic parts (starting with this stacking order):
A) The Compound Path forming the inner dripping black part (in the A),
B) The Compound Path forming the outer dripping black parts,
C) The purple/flamelike/smoky coloured background to cut from,
D) The underlying texture of the dripping black parts,
E) The underlying texture of the inner letter parts;
2) Select A) and B) and copy them both at the very top of the stacking order, then release both Compound Paths and delete the inner path from A) and the outer path from B), then make them into a new Compound Path consisting of the inner letter shapes (you may use Pathfinder>Minus Front or Object>Compound Path>Make);
3) Move E) (the underlying texture of the inner letter parts) up just below the new Compound Path from 2), select both, and Object>Clipping Mask>Make, then hide;
4) Select A) (the Compound Path forming the inner dripping black part (in the A)) and B) (the Compound Path forming the outer dripping black parts) and Object>Compound Path>Make;
5) Select the combination from 4) and D) (the underlying texture of the dripping black parts) and Object>Clipping Mask>Make;
6) Show 3).
C) The purple/flamelike/smoky coloured backgroun, if you keep it, or any other background will will be visible wherever it is not covered.