In the getters of your color properties you need to convert to brushes.
See the answer from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/358443/custom-usercontrol-property-used-by-child-element#360700. The same concept can be applied for your ToggleButton. Create UserControl with no content just a UserControl.
Template override and use TemplateBinding to set your props.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.