<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.Window1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" Title="ResourcesExample" Height="300" Width="300" > <Window.Resources> <Ellipse x:Key="shape" Fill="Blue" Width="100" Height="80" /> </Window.Resources> <StackPanel> <Button>Foo</Button> <StaticResource ResourceKey="shape" /> <Button>Bar</Button> </StackPanel> </Window>