It sounds to me as if you're talking about something like Versamark?
In that case, you don't necessarily have to use embossing powder with it; there are also other ways of using it.
You can just stamp using it for backgrounds, to give a watermark effect.
You can stamp and dust it with chalk pastels - see Poppin' Pastels in the Resources section -
Splitcoaststampers - Poppin’ Pastels Technique Tutorial by Beate Johns
And this ghosting technique gives a fabulous effect -
Splitcoaststampers - Ghosting Technique Tutorial by Beate Johns. It's important to use glossy card for this one.