The in situ combination of M(II) cations (Co, Ni, Cu or Zn) with 2,4,6-pyridinetricarboxylic acid as a ligand, a bisamidinium dication as a H-bond donor tecton and NaOH leads to the formation of anionic metal complexes ML2(2-) and their interconnection into isomorphous 3D H-bonded networks displaying different colours which were used as preformed seed crystals for the formation of crystals of crystals by 3D epitaxial growth.