It’s International Literacy Day on Friday 8th September and we have been asked by Viking to get creative with a box of goodies they have sent us. We were given some gold, silver and bronze Sharpies, a quill (which I was very intrigued by), lots of paper and card and a tote bag too. Emma has just begun to get into crafting so I was excited as to what we could create together. Plus, with the rainy weather that has been sprung upon us, it’s the perfect activity to do together on a miserable day!
what is international literacy day?
International Literacy Day has been celebrated since 1965 and it is honoured to celebrate the efforts made to increase literacy rates around the world. I was pretty shocked to read on Viking’s website that it is estimated over 780 million adults do not know how to read or write. From a young age, Emma has shown such an interest in reading. We have a growing bookshelf and each night Emma chooses her book of the day to read together. Even though I’m usually very tired at that point, it is still my favourite thing to do together. I love this quote by President Clinton:
“Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens.”
― President Clinton on International Literacy Day, 1994
how are we celebrating?
This week Emma is making a move to the next room at nursery, so we’re sadly saying goodbye to some of the lovely girls who have been taking care of her for the past year. We’re both a bit emotional about it, as her start at nursery has been wonderful but it’s onto her new ‘toddler’ room! To say thank you and show them how much they mean to us, we thought we would make a little thank you bag and card. We”ve also bought them a tin of biscuits and chocolates too for them to enjoy together.
But what to put on the card and bag? I thought we would keep it simple and the card reads ‘Thank You for Helping Me Shine’, which I think sums up Emma’s nursery beginnings perfectly. She’s always been a sensitive girl and the nursery staff have completely embraced her for who she is and let her grow all by herself. For the bag, I thought one of my favourite quotes would be lovely:
“Where to Miss?”
“To The Stars…”
here’s how we got on
Viking gave us a gorgeous goodie bag and asked us to get creative so off we went to make our card and bag. As Emma is still young, I did most of the lettering and she decorated with some colouring and we signed her name on the card together. If there’s one thing I know, she always wants to be a big girl so helping me create these completely made her day!
I used the fabric pen and Sharpie pens with the stencil to create the lettering on both the card and the bag, and Emma used felt tip pens to decorate the card inside. I love the simplistic design we chose and think they came out very well. It was also so much fun to do some crafting together as we hadn’t done much before.
After we had finished, we gathered up our presents to take to Emma’s nursery and the girls were blown away with the personal touch we had given! I’ve never really made a gift before so it will definitely be something I return to in the future and perhaps for Christmas too.
International Literacy is on Friday 8th September – make sure you celebrate it too!
Viking gifted me the items we used for this post but all opinions and words are my own
Such a lovely idea… thanks for sharing.
#DreamTeam
Lovely idea. I missed it, alas! #Dreamteamblogger
I was raised in an area that lived below the poverty line. I was sent to a private school all the way up until high school (I’m not sure what this is called in the UK, but it’s before university). I didn’t realize that the kids in the public school had so little literary experience until I joined with them for my final four years. Illiteracy is more commonplace than most people realize, even in developed countries. #DreamTeam
This is a GORGEOUS idea! Literacy, reading and words in general are SO important and I want Josh to grow up with a passion for them like I have. Love this xx #dreamteam
I love that quote – it’s such a nice idea to make a card and gift back for Emma’s teachers too. The Popple moved up to the toddler room at nursery a few months ago (they move them at 2) and being around bigger kids has really helped her language skills. She loves it – and I’m sure Emma will too. #dreamteam
Really interesting read, thanks for sharing X
Oh so so beautiful! Love the personal touch of this, too. Always makes such a difference when such thought has gone into something #DreamTeam
It always makes a difference when a gift has that personal touch. What a lovely idea, Bridie. #DreamTeam
This is a lovely idea – it makes the gift extra special when it is handcrafted.#DreamTeam
I love anything that is handcrafted, it’s so personal and special and I’m sure it would be so much more appreciated. #DreamTeam
I’m fanatical about stationery and we love making cards. I think something hand crafted with littles is such a thoughtful and meaningful gift. Lots of love to Emma in her new room. xx
we never buy cards anymore- handmade is so much better!
#dreamteam
Oh, wow, I love this idea. 🙂 x
#dreamteam
So so pretty! What a lovely idea. I’m terrible at hands-on crafty things like this but it looks like I may be able to have a go!? I’m sure your daughter’s nursery loved it! X #dreamteam
Oooh lovely craft kit and a lovely idea for her nursery teachers. #dreamteam
#dreamteam i love a tote and a quote (oh that rhymes) and this is a lovely and thoughtful gift…p.s. have you played with the quill yet?
This is a great gift idea, really thoughtful #DreamTeam
Love the look of that quill set and that quote is perfect x
#DreamTeam
I adore that quote! Great choice – and I would LOVE a quill! Did you have to dip it in ink etc? I’d feel like I was in Pride and Prejudice! Thanks for hosting #DreamTeam
Gorgeous! Absolutely love your choice of quote for the bag and wording for the card – just lovely. Handmade gifts are so much better than shop-bought xx #DreamTeam
I hope she enjoys her new nursery room! Love the quote and the card you’ve made xx #DreamTeam x
What a lovely gift. Hope she enjoys her new nursery room x
#DreamTeam
What a shocking fact about the prevelance of illiteracy, what a lovely personal gift you made the ladies at the nursery, so much better than a shop bought gift #dreamteam
I would love this so much! What a lovely gift and also, I love that quote 🙂 #DreamTeam
That is such a cute idea with the card! Her art skills are better than mine! hahah #dreamteam
Great Idea. thanks for sharing. #dreamteam
I love the quill set. I have always wanted to try caligraphy but am such a messy writer. #dreamteam
literacy is very important and we need to start early with our kids. I love the quote you picked #dreamteam
Oh I love this! Those bags and cards are super cute, and great quote. Clem is starting to show an interest in writing and letters now so I’m thinking I might need to get a few bits soon to help her out. #dreamteam
What a lovely gift and idea. My wife a primary teacher and the stories she tells me of some poor souls who are struggling at school based on their home life. Thankfully our daughter has the perfect opportunity in life and loves reading and writing.
What a lovely idea #DreamTeam
What a lovely little gift! I love all things crafty 🙂 #dreamteam
Aaaw what a lovely, personalised gift! I bet they loved it! #dreamteam
I love that quote, and it’s a great idea to put it on a tote bag. I bet the staff at nursery loved the gift and the thought too. #dreamteam
What a great idea to stencil a bag! I’m going to have to remember that for our next set of pressies. I love how clear the lettering came out. Sending all the luck to Emma for a fab time in the toddler room. #DreamTeam xx
What a lovely box of crafting goodies and such a lovely idea to make them into personal gifts. I bet the nursery staff were really touched. International literacy day is clearly very very important. #DreamTeam
Lovely gift idea to give the personal touch to show your appreciation #dreamteam
Aww this is very sweet – I bet they were so touched! I can’t believe the rates of adult illiteracy, I had no idea #dreamteam
Home made gifts are the best…we often try to make home made presents for the teachers. Your bag and card look lovely! #dreamteam
This is adorable and I just love that quote! #dreamteam