Whimsical Winter Storybook Illustration

Create a charming vertical winter storybook illustration in a cozy hand-painted, whimsical folk-art style. Depict a cluster of colorful, narrow European-style cottages covered in thick, fluffy snow, with steep triangular roofs, glowing windows, tiny balconies, chimneys, and simple decorative details. Surround the houses with delicate bare branches, small red and golden berries, and evergreen foliage. In the foreground, place a rustic wooden sled holding a warm steaming mug and a simple red planter filled with lush evergreen branches and winter foliage. Add gentle falling snow throughout the scene. Use a soft warm cream background, a limited palette of deep red, forest green, mustard yellow, white, and muted natural tones. Keep the artwork flat yet richly textured, with visible watercolor/gouache brushwork, slightly imperfect hand-drawn outlines, charming simplified shapes, and a cozy handmade children’s picture-book feeling. Composition: centered, balanced, vertically framed, layered foreground/middle/background, generous negative space, no photorealism, no 3D rendering, no glossy digital effects. Whimsical Scandinavian/European winter postcard aesthetic, cozy Christmas atmosphere, nostalgic handmade illustration, delicate paper texture, soft muted lighting, highly detailed but simple and adorable. Aspect ratio: 4:5 vertical.