Thank you for your responses, they have been very helpful. I have the Memento Black and when Achievers had their closing sales in our Orem store was able to buy the ink in other colors - they were the ink pads that they had used in their classes and they are still great ink pad. I will now remember to pair them with copics.
I haven't done much embossing, still a little scared of it, I will start as I know that really helps keep the coloring clearer. Must brave the embossing powders and embrace them and the heat gun.