some more sophisticated tools

If you want to experiment with more tools try these:

pathfinder palette (unite, minus front, exclude, intersect)

make a clipping mask (2 objects that overlap, Object menu, Clipping Mask, Make)

effects menu (distort & transform, stylize & 3D options)

These tools will allow you to confine patterns to the boundaries of certain shapes (pathfinder), confine images to larger shapes (clipping mask) or add automatic effects to shapes (drop shadow). They can also be more trouble than they're worth, so use them selectively & experiment.