I started with a canvas size of about 600 x 400 on a transparent background,
then flood filled the first layer with a blue gradient.
I used the freehand selection
tool 
to make a selection for the snow on a new layer
and flood filled with white.
On a new vector layer above the snow, I used preset shapes rounded rectangle with a fill color of #B6896B, I made the front of the house using node edit.
Then changing my fill color to #B47D54, I added a new vector layer above the house and used preset shapes with the same settings to make some small bricks.
Changing my fill to white I made the roof on a new vector layer using preset shapes ellipse and node edit.
Using preset shapes ellipse with a fill color of null and a stroke color of #B47D54, line width about 3, I made the window frames on a new vector layer.
You can convert these to raster layers when you are finished with each one, everything should be on it own layer though.
Adding a new vector layer above this one, I changed the stroke to null and the fill to #B47D54 and used preset shapes rounded rectangle to make more of the windows.
Adding a new layer right above the bricks layer, I used this same color for my stroke and my fill at null I used the draw tool at single line, line width of 1, I made little criss cross lines inside the windows.
Adding another layer under this one I selected the areas inside the windows and filled with an orange-yellow gradient.
Adding a new vector layer right above the snow layer, I used preset shapes ellipse with a fill color of #707A53 to make a small tree using node edit.
Then in my layers pallet I clicked on the little plus sign next to this layer and on the tree I just made I right clicked and choose "copy" and then added a new vector layer at the very top and right click again anywhere on the picture and choose "paste as new vector selection" to make another bigger tree by dragging the nodes out.
Then added a layer under the snow layer and pasted another tree behind the little one.
Then using the freehand selection
tool again I added a layer at the very top of all
this and selected another area for more snow and filled the selection with
white.
Under the first layer of snow, right above the big tree in the back, I added a new layer and used preset shapes rounded rectangle, same fill color as the house, to make the back part of the house.
Adding another layer above this I used preset shapes with the same color as the other bricks to make more bricks here.
Using preset shapes ellipse with a fill color of white, I made the back roof on a new layer above the bricks.
In the same way I did the tree, I copied one of the window frames and pasted it on a new vector layer right above the bricks, naming this layer door, then on this same layer I used preset shapes rounded rectangle to make the bottom part of the door.
Then on a new layer under the door I made more criss cross lines, the same way I did the windows.
Using the same color as the door, I made a chimney on a new layer under the back snowroof, using preset shapes ellipse.
Selected the area inside the door and filled with the same orange-yellow gradient on a new layer under the door.
On all three tree layers, I used a cutout with the settings below, then applied 6% uniform noise to each tree.
On the two snow layers I used a cutout with the settings below, then applied a Gaussian Blur of 2 and added 6% uniform noise to these layers too.
Then on both the roof layers I used this same cutout, changing the Vertical to -4 and the blur to 25, leaving the other settings the same. I used a gaussian blur of 1 on both these layers and added 6% uniform noise here too.
Then on the front and back house layers I used a cutout with these settings...
Then you can add a texture to this if you want, I used a sandstone texture on both these layers.
For both of the brick layers I used a drop shadow, Vertical = -2 Horizontal = 0 Opacity = 30 Blur = 2.4 Color = white, and then another drop shadow changing the vertical to 2 and the color to black on both these layers.
Then added these same drop shadows to the door and all the windows.
I then added the same cutout as the house on the chimney layer and added a brick texture here.
And made a wreath on a new layer above the door
Adding a new layer at the very top, I started making the snowman using a white fill and preset shapes ellipse, using the same cutout here as I used on the roof layers, I used a gaussian blur of 1 on this and added 6% uniform noise.
Then using freehand draw I added his stick arms, a black hat and a scarf, then the eyes and nose and buttons. Basically at this point you can add anything you want to your house, I also added another layer of snow above the snowman. Here is my finished picture.
