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My builds - Jude525

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  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited October 2017
    Blueprint of a Small Greenhouse link

    Exterior

    LhXz8SR.jpg

    Interior

    LSLGstE.jpg

    I found myself building this same greenhouse for winter gardening over and over in various games. Because it is an outbuilding within a lot, I couldn't simply save it to the bin and plop it down when I wanted it. Until I remembered the Blueprint Mode feature.

    This is something different than a shared lot. For those not familiar with it, the Blueprint Mode feature allows us to select a prefabricated room from a list of available designs and "plop" them onto our lots. Using them either to create a new house or expand a new one. Multiple blueprints can be combined to create an entire house, or a single room that you like can be included in an otherwise custom build. Instructions on how to use the tool can be found in the game tips by searching Blueprint Mode or there are various tutorials on the web.

    Also, this file does not install the way shared lots or sims do. It installs as a custom .package file within a Mods folder. IT IS NOT A MOD. It does not change your game. But the structure of the Mods folder is the only way to place custom .package files. The file is placed within the Mods/Packages folder and the "room" then shows up among the other available blueprints in Blueprint Mode.

    A couple notes about this specific blueprint. The gardening tools on the wall are not in the blueprint room. They are a store object, though I don't remember which set they are from. I removed them before the final version. To make the blueprint more versatile I have include planter pots from both Supernatural and the Stones Throw Greenhouse, so if you have either then greenhouse will function. If you have both you can use it as is. If only one, then only half the planters will appear in the finished greenhouse and you can simply duplicate them to fill the empty spaces.

    Also, I've used the Greenhouse Window from Stones Throw for almost all the windows. But, if you don't have that venue, there is one window next to the door that I liked from the base game. I don't know what the game will replace the Greenhouse Windows with, but if you want to maintain a similar look, just replace them with the full wall window I've provided.

    Finally, once you have constructed the building where you want it, you'll have to build a roof. (Blueprints don't generally build roofs.) I've used the Sunburst Skylights from Roaring Heights. To do so, first build a flat roof, then place two skylights. The flat roof will disappear from under them. If you don't own Roaring Heights, then I suggest just a flat roof, since in real life it would produce the least overhang/shadow to the windows. In Sims 2 I had glass floor tiles that would have worked, but I don't remember if they were cc or not. Irrelevant now. For that matter, if you aren't afraid of cc, I'm sure you can find some out there. Or a non-EA alternative to the skylights I use.

    I know this is easy enough just to build. I really just did it for my own convenience because I use it so often. And to test the tool to create custom blueprints. But I figured once I had it I might as well share. So, there it is. Enjoy.

    Post edited by Jude525 on
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    In a different conversation, @funkeeferret suggested an address for my project to build my family's beach house. I'm calling it the 4 Alice Street project, based on the address. It is a perfect lot on an almost perfect slope in Twinbrook. The house is built into the hill, with the front entrance on street level and the back entrance out the basement.

    I'm frustrated because apparently I can't build a basement "into" the hill, with the ground coming right up to the structure. It has to leave a gap. In an original build I would just mask this with landscaping, but this is a recreation of a real property, and there isn't any landscaping around the house. I will just have to live with it.

    Also, because it is a summer house, primarily designed for sleeping in and outdoor living, the rooms are close. Matching the dimensions requires a single door centered across two wall panels. I can't find one in game. I also can't find any windows in game that even closely resemble the glass paneled louvre windows from the house. So, this build is going to have quite a bit of custom content. Once I crossed the cc line, I decided to go all the way. We didn't have wooden doors in our bedrooms, just light privacy curtains. It saved space and allowed the air to flow.

    Likewise, the kitchen cabinets had curtains instead of doors. Actually, in both cases, this also saved building costs. The house was built by hand over many years as my parents had the cash available. There wasn't a staircase between the two floors for the first two or three years. You went outside and up or down the hill to change floors. And we used my grandparents' outhouse next door for quite some time as well. B)

    I know the curtained cabinets are somewhere on TSR, and I found an old style tub washing machine like the one we used when I was a kid. Furniture won't be a problem. It was furnished with 50's style furniture, which is available from store content. But for outside I found some great webbed chairs. I'd love to find similarly webbed loungers, so I'll keep looking.

    Like I said, the more appropriate cc I find, the more committed I am to making this an authentic reproduction of how it appeared during my childhood, before we changed everything in the 80s.

    So, a few requests for people who use cc. I'm still looking for: curtained lower cabinets and open upper cabinets; a drop down attic staircase prop that isn't functional (the attic is too short for Sims, and the stairs would not work in the location anyway;) a cabinet sewing machine; a standalone stovepipe prop, one floor high (it's actually a plumbing vent pipe, but I figure the stovepipe is more readily available)

    I'll keep searching, but it never hurts to ask.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • funkeeferretfunkeeferret Posts: 415 Member
    Oh, I love your greenhouse! I am one of those not familiar with blueprint so it will be fun learning about it. Oh, I remember glass floor tiles! I loved them! Those would be worth finding. Thanks for all the helpful hints and letting us know of alternatives when we don't have a specific object. Really great idea saving the greenhouse for future use. :)

    Your summer house project sounds like fun. Not only to you get to recreate it, but you get to relive the memories in the process. I can see where CC would be the only way to go. I think you will be much happier with the results doing it that way. That's really special that your dad built it. Do you know if the house is still there?
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    Love the greenhouse. I never thought about using the blueprint tool to share rooms! That is such an awesome idea. :) But it makes since that we could share them since it is just a package file. Woo hoo! Look forward to the greenhouse going live.
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited November 2017
    @funkeeferret dad still owns the house and summers there every year. Generally from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, with allowances made for weather and trips to Italy. Have I mentioned dad is 89? (There was a typo and I had "81." He passed that a loooong time ago.) He's rather active. :)

    Also, when I was growing up, my relatives owned property either abutting ours or on the same street. My grandparents and uncle had abutting properties, while two uncles lived up and down the street. Summers were truly family vacations. A large part of what made this viable is that none of us traveled for vacation. Rather, that money went toward our summer homes, which were modest.

    Even during the school year my relatives were my neighbors and my cousins were my friends. My grandparents, an uncle and an aunt directly across the street and another uncle in the same city. Today my closest non-sibling friend is still a cousin. And dad visits his cousins in Italy annually.
    Post edited by Jude525 on
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    @ZeeGee, that link was supposed to be live. It had a syntax error, which has been corrected. Please try again.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    @rosemow, thank you.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    Jude, it just pulls up a blank page for me. :(
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • funkeeferretfunkeeferret Posts: 415 Member
    @Jude525, what sweet. memories you have growing up. It sounds like you had lots of family fun. It's so nice to have cousins. I'm glad to hear the summer home still stands and I'm happy the Sim lot worked out for you. Just watch out for that sudden drop!
    Your dad sounds pretty cool. That's so nice that he is able to travel to Italy to see his family. I still can't get over that he built the cottage. Amazing! :)
    Heck you could build entire neighborhoods with just your family members!

    ps. At first the link didn't work for me but now it does. So nice of you to share.
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    Jude525 wrote: »

    I think it's my internet. We've been having problems this weekend. It pulls up the page, and I'm able to hit the 'like' button, but when I click on the download link the page goes blank. I'll try another time.
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    ZeeGee wrote: »
    Jude525 wrote: »

    I think it's my internet. We've been having problems this weekend. It pulls up the page, and I'm able to hit the 'like' button, but when I click on the download link the page goes blank. I'll try another time.

    :cookie:
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • ZayvenZayven Posts: 67 Member
    Thank you so much for the instructions about how to do it! I've been wondering how to do roofs like that. I don't have Roaring Heights, but that is incentive :)
  • MpartMpart Posts: 115 Member
    Ah, I haven't been able to comment much, but just wanted to say I loved the greenhouse and how you included it in the blueprint feature. It is very well done and the color scheme gives it a warm feel. The combination of the windows and roof really tie the greenhouse together well.
    t2W9HAW.png

    Mpart's Builds; Taking Requests (Indefinite Hiatus)
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited December 2017
    Another mini-build. I wasn't planning on doing a build, but I needed a 🐸🐸🐸🐸 caravan for a character I was playing and couldn't just plop it onto an otherwise empty lot. So I built this 🐸🐸🐸🐸 Garden. link

    2zUHsMU.jpg

    3jcIek6.jpg

    3Qc7Y8r.jpg

    [I need to upload an image of under the gazebo to go here.]

    The concept is that the 🐸🐸🐸🐸 stopped here "temporarily" and has actually been settled in for a while. As witnessed by the flowers planted around the One With Nature Garden Gazebo that have spread into almost wild patches. None of the furniture matches, with the exception being the two Wonderfully Woven Hanging Chairs suspended within the gazebo. But most of the furniture is ornate. Although all the outdoor furnishing doesn't quite suit a wet or 4 season climate, most of the important stuff is protected from the weather. But, since it isn't actually a residential lot, this is a minor matter. I expect that your Sims will only visit in nicer weather.

    Also, because it isn't residential, I've included items to make it work more like a park. A cauldron style grill, a picnic table and a firepit for socializing. There are also the expected magical components. Lord Vladimir's Magic Cauldron and the Soothsayer's Crystal Ball.

    The lot relies heavily on items from Supernatural and related items from the Sims 3 Store. Apparently there is also something on there from Pets, though I couldn't tell you what. It isn't anything important, so don't let that stop you from trying out the lot if you have everything else that's mentioned in the Studio list. I may try loading it later with Pets disabled to test this and repost it without the Pets content if it is that minor.

    It also occurs to me that I could have included an outhouse (Movie Stuff Pack,) so I recommend adding one. Probably discreetly placed in the back corner behind the caravan. An all-in-one bathroom would service more needs, but I don't think the aesthetics of any of them would work here.

    So, I hope that y'all enjoy it. I know for a quick, unexpected build I really am pleased with the results. It gave me an opportunity to use several items that I hadn't used before, as well as a couple favorites (the gazebo and String of Inspiration find themselves on my lots often.)

    EDIT: After finding a routing issue with the Soothsayer's Crystal Ball I've uploaded a revised lot. As a bonus, the new lot also includes an All-in-One Outhouse from the Movies SP in the back corner to make longer stays on the lot possible.
    Post edited by Jude525 on
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited November 2017
    Status update:

    I do plan to get back to the Old Oak Park festival grounds soon. I just finished my latest entry for the GIFT OF CREATION GAME, which I am posting directly below, and want to take some time to play my game a bit before devoting the time to another season of the festival grounds.

    If you aren't familiar with the Gift of Creation Game (contest) it is where creators fulfill wishlists for people who want a specific project (a type of lot, a Sim, etc.) It is a great place to see creators' works, or ask for that special house or Sim that you don't feel able to create yourself. Or just follow the thread and see if there are creations that you want to download into your own game without actually doing either. But please at least say "hi." I know I, for one, love to know who my fans are.

    I often feel this way when I see the number of people who download my stuff. I get very excited. Right now 15 people have already downloaded the 🐸🐸🐸🐸 Garden just from my mentioning it on the Creation Game thread. I mean, wow. I get why people on YouTube or similar sites get so psyched about the number of followers they get and kinda wish we had something similar here.

    But, regardless, I really appreciate every one of you who checks out my stuff here, even if just to look at it. Thank you.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited November 2017
    So, as I just mentioned, I created these Sims for the Gift of Creation Game. They are Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon from The Mentalist. (Played by Simon Baker and Robin Tunney.) link

    I assigned traits and LWs based loosely on their TV personalities. Patrick is not a real Psychic, but his LW actually requires him to be fake. So I figured that worked. On the show Teresa is a cop, so her LW is consistent with that.

    Teresa's Traits: Perceptive; Brave; Perfectionist; Supernatural Skeptic and Charismatic.
    Her Lifetime Wish is to become a Forensic Specialist: Dynamic DNA Profiler

    Patrick's Traits: Brave: Genius; Bookworm; Neat; Perfectionist
    His Lifetime Wish is to be a Celebrity Psychic

    KoeONkn.jpg
    A casual shot of the couple
    j5Svyls.jpg

    A sweet pose that I can't imagine the actual show characters doing, but I couldn't resist
    jinigC1.jpg

    Teresa considering the details of a case
    IPbuz3A.jpg

    Patrick considering the same case
    jjBZkLI.jpg

    Me having fun with using Poser for the first time
    3QX0gda.jpg

    The proposal
    KlqLjls.jpg

    And the wedding
    qhntKyV.jpg


    I had every EP and SP active, as well as all the store content. According to My Studio, stuff from almost everything found its way into these Sims' outfits or personalities! If you do not own everything, or have them all active, you will have random items of clothing and hairstyles assigned. Not a big deal. BUT you may lose traits. And by that I mean end up with empty slots. This can be resolved by using the built in "testingcheatsenabled" feature to bring them back into CAS. If anyone needs help with this, please just let me know. I can post a quick tutorial or post a custom version of the couple.

    Although several of the photos show their wedding, the couple is not yet married in the download. This allows you to have the story progress at your own pace. There is always the option of splitting them to separate households to truly start them at the beginning of their relationship. Also, Teresa should be wearing a headpiece in the wedding outfit similar to that worn in the TV series, but for some reason it randomly appears or disappears as I load them for editing and pics. So I'm not sure if you'll get it with the download. But I chose a wedding dress as close as possible to the series, with cap sleeves, and Patrick's suit is as close to the blue suit that he wore as well.

    Their everyday outfits were also chosen to represent their characters' styles. With Patrick wearing his signature vest, and Teresa wearing a smart slacks and jacket outfit. I know that these would technically be their work clothes, but it is how we see them most often on screen.

    All other outfits are relatively random, with some thought to their personalities. But I haven't seen the show in years, so not as much as the two mentioned. And outerwear is a pure guess with the show set in a temperate climate.

    I'm finding that I enjoy the challenge of making Sim representations of real people. It isn't always easy, and I'm not always completely thrilled with the results. But it is still fun.

    Actually, I should post my SimSelf so that y'all can get a look at me. I made him a while back and played him as the primary character in game for almost a year. He/I am the pic in my avatar.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • rosemowrosemow Posts: 163,519 Member
    🐸🐸🐸🐸 Garden is a very colourfully nice build! :) The layout of the build looks very nice. Very nice outdoors dining area for sims to enjoy cooking meals on the grill and eating them at blue picnic table. The cauldron looks great in the build, and sims will enjoy playing guitar in the outdoors air. Very nice firepit area! It looks nice that there is a variety of types of chairs around the fire pit for sims to enjoy sitting there toasting food and keeping warm. Very nice gazebo! It is nice that the hanging chairs are there for sims to enjoy relaxing in the chairs. The patterned floor rugs add a nice look to the area,
    Your simversions of Patrick and Theresa are very nice! :) You have reflected them very well as sims! The photos that you have taken of them in the various poses looks very nice! The proposal and wedding photos are very special <3
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    edited October 2018
    So, another celebrity Sim. This time James Spader. link Also an entry from the Gift of Creation Game. This was back in September.

    AyA5YEz.jpg

    I used no CC or special skin shading to make James. And, in truth, he was only my second attempt at a Sim based on a real person. My first having been my SimSelf.

    The Exchange "filter" mentions Seasons, but I'm hoping that only the outerwear is effected by that. So that when you install without Seasons nothing else will be effected. The wavy hair is a store style, and that is the key aspect of his look. I am pleased with the shading of his hair. There are moments when his head moves a certain way when the resemblance is great, so I know it isn't too far off. And there are details where I simply couldn't get any closer with TS3 controls without getting into CC or mods. Probably more practice would allow more precision, but overall I'm pleased with the results.

    I don't remember the movie "Pretty in Pink" well enough to remember his character Steff's personality traits. So I gave him traits based on what I think I remember him being like. Charismatic, Snob, Great Kisser, Ambitious, Social Butterfly. Of course, these can always be modified by bringing him back into CAS. Seeing as he is probably the prettiest Sim I've ever made, I will definitely be changing them to something nicer and playing him in-game at some point.
    Post edited by Jude525 on
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    @rosemow, thank you for your usual thoughtful and kind words.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • soocoolsimsoocoolsim Posts: 6,260 Member

    Glad so see you sharing your creations with others. I love the bright colours of your 🐸🐸🐸🐸 Garden. Good luck with the challenges :smiley:
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    @soocoolsim, Thanks so much for checking out my stuff. I'm glad you like the garden.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • Jude525Jude525 Posts: 1,696 Member
    By the gods! I've just figured out how to see how many people have been watching my thread. I have 1.5K views so far!!!!! That's a lot of lurking. But that's fine with me. Granted, I don't have nearly that many downloads, but wow, I would never have guessed I was getting that much screen time. So very cool. Thanks everyone.
    aka Jude
    I own the store as of 1+7/17/17

    My Studio

    My build thread in the Creative Corner
  • MpartMpart Posts: 115 Member
    Oh my goodness! I absolutely ADORE the 🐸🐸🐸🐸 garden! It is wonderful! I love the idea behind it and how the bright colors just tie everything together. The vines and lights on the gazebo had just the right finishing touches to it as the flowers surround it. Wonderful build!
    t2W9HAW.png

    Mpart's Builds; Taking Requests (Indefinite Hiatus)
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