The basic syntax and usage of a resource
<UserControl x:Class='SilverlightApplication3.MainPage' xmlns='http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation' xmlns:x='http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml' xmlns:d='http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008' xmlns:mc='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006' mc:Ignorable='d' d:DesignWidth='640' d:DesignHeight='480'> <Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="White"> <StackPanel> <StackPanel.Resources> <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="myGradientBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="1,1"> <GradientStop Color="#FF575757"/> <GradientStop Color="#FFCDCDCD" Offset="1"/> </LinearGradientBrush> </StackPanel.Resources> <TextBlock Text="DECLARATIVE" FontWeight="Bold" FontFamily="Verdana" FontSize="40" Foreground="{StaticResource myGradientBrush}" /> <TextBlock Text="RESOURCES" FontWeight="Bold" FontFamily="Verdana" FontSize="40" Foreground="{StaticResource myGradientBrush}" /> </StackPanel> </Grid> </UserControl>