Custom Genesis home page with 2 widget areas and loop to pull in portfolio CPT.

front-page.php

<?php

/* Add the homepage widgets and projects
------------------------------------------------------------ */

add_action( 'genesis_loop', 'jmd_homepage_widgets' );
function jmd_homepage_widgets() {

  genesis_widget_area( 'home-top', array(
		'before' => '<div class="home-top"><div class="wrap">',
		'after' => '</div></div>',
	) );
	
	echo '<div class="home-projects"><div class="wrap">';
	
	    $args = array(
         'post_type' => 'portfolio',
				 'order' => 'DESC',
				 'posts_per_page' => 2
	    );
			
	    $tips = new WP_Query( $args );
	if( $tips->have_posts() ):
		
		while ( $tips->have_posts() ) : $tips->the_post();
		
		  $classes = 0 == $tips->current_post || 0 == $tips->current_post % 2 ? 'entry one-half first' : 'entry one-half';
			echo '<div class="' . $classes . '">';
			echo '<a class="quicklink" href="' . get_permalink() .'" title="' . the_title_attribute( 'echo=0' ) . '">';
      echo get_the_post_thumbnail($thumbnail->ID, 'full');
			echo '<h4>' . get_the_title() . '</h4>';
      echo '</a>';
			echo '</div>';
			
			
		endwhile;
		
	endif;
	wp_reset_postdata();
	
	echo '</div></div>';

	
	genesis_widget_area( 'home-bottom', array(
		'before' => '<div class="home-bottom"><div class="wrap">',
		'after' => '</div></div>',
	) );

}