$excerpt_length = 15; // words
$thumbnail_size = 'thumbnail';
$number_of_posts = 5;

$args = array(
	'numberposts' => $number_of_posts, // number of posts
	'post_status' => 'publish'
);
$recent_posts = wp_get_recent_posts( $args, ARRAY_A );

foreach( $recent_posts as $recent ) {

	$permalink = get_permalink( $recent['ID'] );
	$post_title = esc_attr( $recent['post_title'] );
	if ( empty( $recent['post_excerpt'] ) ) {
		$the_excerpt = strip_tags( strip_shortcodes( $recent['post_content'] ) );
		$words = explode( ' ', $the_excerpt, $excerpt_length + 1 );
		if ( count( $words ) > $excerpt_length ) {
			array_pop( $words );
			array_push( $words, '…' );
			$the_excerpt = implode( ' ', $words );
		}
	} else {
		$the_excerpt = $recent['post_excerpt'];
	}

	// Open block
	echo '<div class="item clearfix">';

	// Thumbnail
	if ( has_post_thumbnail( $recent['ID'] ) ) {
		printf(
			'<a href="%1$s" title="%2$s">%3$s</a>', 
			$permalink, 
			$post_title,
			get_the_post_thumbnail( $recent['ID'], $excerpt_length ) 
		);
	}

	// Title
	printf(
		'<p class="post-title"><a href="%1$s" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to %2$s">%2$s</a></p>',
		$permalink,
		$post_title
	);

	// Excerpt
	printf(
		'<p class="post-summary">%1$s</p>',
		$the_excerpt
	);

	// Close block
	echo '</div>';

} // END foreach