Is there a way to make the tab strip “multi-layer”? This meaning one behind the other. The only way I see doing it is with two individual tab strips layered over each other. This tends to look kind of ugly.
Thanks for any advance help 
Use the visibility function of the tab strips.
I could get you some example code to get you started if needed.
MP,
Did you try looking at the skeleton projects available in the designer?
Create a new project with the designer, then select one of the templates.
(I would advise doing this on a separate server from your production one, or at least using a separate tag provider from the one your other projects are using.)
There are two templates that have two-tier navigation and might help you to do what you wish. One of them has two-tiered tabs and looks pretty good to me.