This plugin gives the look of a magazine-style website with thumbnails and excerpts in a clean layout. Thumbnails are generated automatically, and there is a settings page to set an unholy amount of options. (Really, it’s out of control and I’m sorry.) The latest release also has a “featured post” add-on so you can specify any post you want or just the most recent one to be put in the featured post box. You can also add a css popup for the image that includes the post title and 
Are you using Thesis from DIYThemes.com? Easily place your Recent Visual Posts by simply inserting your desired Thesis hook on the settings page. No code changes needed.
This plugin uses a slightly modified version of the excellent Image Extractor plugin found at <a href="https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/image-extractor/" rel="ugc">wordpress.org/extend/plugins/image-extractor/</a>.
<h3>I need more help!</h3>
Make sure you check out the <a href="http://oktober5.com/visual-recent-posts-plugin/" rel="nofollow ugc">plugin homepage</a>. If you need my help, check out the <a href="http://oktober5.com/forums/" rel="nofollow ugc">plugin forums</a>

Visual Recent Posts

Displays your recent posts with auto-generated thumbnails and excerpts; also includes a featured post and popup box option.

nutttaro

WP Featured Posts is a plugin choose featured posts, sortable and sticky custom post type.
Features:
<ul>
<li>Easy for choose featured posts.</li>
<li>Easy for ordering featured posts.</li>
<li>Support custom post types.</li>
<li>Sticky custom post types for sticky posts at first.</li>
<li>The plugin is lightweight.</li>
<li>Compatible with WPML.</li>
</ul>

WP Featured Posts

WP Featured Posts is a plugin choose featured posts, sortable and sticky custom post type and compatible with WPML.

Visual Recent Posts vs WP Featured Posts