Disable the Grid (View > Grid ) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) and add your first text. Start with the day number. Pick the Type Tool (T), click on your artboard, and add your number. Use the Faltura font, with a size of 275pt.
Set the tracking at 50 and the color at R=140 G=135 B=120, then go to Object > Expand (or Type > Create Outlines). Turn the resulting shapes into a simple compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), then make a copy in front (Control + C > Control + F > Control + F). Also, select the two shapes created in the third step and make a copy in front. You will need all these copies then for the next steps.