Put your soft items (beverages, meat, cheese) on top of the paper layer, away from the dry ice block. Never put a glass bottle directly against dry ice. The glass will crack from thermal shock, and you’ll have a fizzy, explosive mess. Use cans or plastic bottles. If you want to freeze stuff solid—like ice cream you intend to chisel—place it next to the block, but not touching it directly. A gap of an inch or two is enough.
For maximum efficiency, pack the cooler as full as possible. Empty space is the enemy. It forces the dry ice to sublimate faster, fighting to cool all that air. Fill gaps with more paper or even soft, frozen vegetables. Yes, a bag of frozen peas makes an excellent filler. They will also become rock-hard and double as self-defense projectiles.
How To Pack Your Cooler With Dry Ice at William Hulsey blog