For some reason, I'm almost at a loss here trying to figure out which would come first on a cake..the stripes or a the swags/drapes that are 'on top' of the stripes?

I know how to do stripes and also drapes and swags but putting them together I haven't done yet...

Could anyone please give me advice on this? I want to put stripes on a cake, bottom portion, and then have white drapes/swaps hanging on the top portion- where there won't be any stripes. 

Should I trim the top part of the stripes to fit underneath the swags before I place them on the cake- or do that after I put them on and right before I place the swags? Are there any tutorials somewhere on this?

any help is very much appreciated Thank you in advance!!!  

Do you have a photo of what you are trying to accomplish. That would help!
 

Yes! Like the bottom tier of this cake with the white and blue stripes and then it has the swags on the upper portion of the cake. I"m planning on doing not just one stripe but two colors.

or the top tier of this cake. Again it's only one stripe..whereas I plan to make two. 

So should I make the stripes curved (scalloped) on top before I apply them to the cake and then match the swags to the curves of the top of stripes? Or do I take an exacto blade and cut off after I've applied them on the cake? Or do I put on the swags first and then the stripes?

Please let me know if these photos come up..it's my first time uploading photos and I only see the jpeg links here? thanks!

Yeah, the pictures were clickable links and loaded just fine.

Yes, I would definitely do the stripes first and then the swag over top. I would measure your swag distance around the tier and make a pattern so when you cut the scallop on the strips it is all uniform. After you apply the stripes, it will be easy to just lay the swag along the premeasure scalloped edge.

Stripes first then swags.  You don't need to cut the stripes off curved, the swags will cover the tops completely and you can always trim off a bit more as you go if you need to.  You can use a round cookie cutter or a swag marker or something to lightly mark where the join will be on the cake then go to town!  HTH

Thank you so much Tabathaba and KoryAK!! xxx

Check out this link for the bows and swags if you need it. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173072148/wedgewood-style-basket-with-flowers-food?ref=shop_home_active

You could put stripes all around the cake. Then take a scalloped circle of fondant and place on top. Then add the swags.

Like my avatar?  I mapped out where I wanted my swags to go, then placed small pinpricks to indicate that.  Then I placed my stripes on, cutting them to match the pinpricks.  Then I did the swags.